Kyrgyzstan's interim government said Tuesday that it had charged ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev with "mass killing" and has formally prepared an extradition request.
Belarus took in Bakiyev last week after he fled in the aftermath of a bloody revolt. Moscow made it clear that he was not welcome in Russia.
"The former president of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, has been charged with mass killing," Azimbek Beknazarov, an interim deputy prime minister for security, said in Bishkek. The extradition request would be sent "within days," he added.
Bakiyev might also be charged with abuse of power in an official capacity, Beknazarov told reporters.
He also said the government had an arrest warrant out for Bakiyev's brother Zhanybek Bakiyev, who was also accused of mass killings. Bishkek has sent extradition requests to Kazakhstan and other countries, Beknazarov said, Interfax reported.
Former Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov and the ousted special forces chief, Murat Sutalinov, and Bakiyev's eldest son, Marat, are also wanted on the same charges, Beknazarov said.
Troops loyal to Bakiyev shot into crowds of protesters on the night of April 7. Some protesters were armed and fought back and at least 85 people were killed. Bakiyev has maintained that Moscow may have played a role in his overthrow.
But Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has made it equally clear that Bakiyev was welcome to remain in his country.
Russia's Federal Security Service detained Kyrgyzstan's former interior minister, Moldomusa Kongantiyev, and sent him home Monday. The extradition was the latest strong signal of Russian support for the new administration.
The interim government said Kongantiyev, who was badly beaten during the uprising, was under arrest and being investigated for his role in the upheaval earlier this month, among other things.
(Reuters, MT)
China will close its border with Kyrgyzstan for the May 1 holiday that begins Friday, a checkpoint employee said Tuesday.
It was unclear why China would close its borders with Kyrgyzstan, though it has stepped up security in the run-up to the Shanghai Expo, which is expected to draw millions of visitors and opens Saturday.
(AP)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.