The Prosecutor General’s Office has declined to deliver Zhanybek Bakiyev, the former Kyrgyz President’s younger brother.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev, his brother Zhanybek and son Marat were charged in absentia with slaughter and put on the international wanted list. Moreover, Mr. Bakiyev, who was the head of Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s presidential guard service, and his people are the prime suspects in the murder in March 2009 of Medet Sadyrkulov, a former head of the Presidential Administration; Sergei Slepchenko, director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Kubat Sulaymanov, the driver of the car they were in.
Zhanybek Bakiyev happened to be in Minsk: Mikhail Pashkevich, a civil activist, took a picture of the suspect when the latter was leaving a café surrounded by his security guards.
Does the Prosecutor General’s Office protect the Bakiyevs from political persecution?
The Belarusian Prosecutor General’s Office posted an official statement on Zhanybek Bakiyev’s non- extradition on its web site.
According to the statement, the Belarusian side believes that “the request for extradition is connected to political persecution”. That is why “the request of the Kyrgyz Prosecutor General’s Office has been denied”.
The Bakiyevs brought about a conflict
On August 24 Kyrgyzstan recalled its ambassador from Belarus. It is the pictures of Zhanybek Bakiyev that became the ground for such a serious measure.
The Belarusian Envoy in Bishkek was presented a note verbale in which the Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan expressed concern over media publications confirming Zhanysh Bakiyev’s presence in Minsk. Kyrgyzstan voiced a hope that official Minsk “will take comprehensive measures for Zhanybek Bakiyev’s immediate detention and extradition to the Kyrgyz Republic after all”.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev, his life partner and two children arrived in Belarus on personal invitation of Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Kyrgyzstan authorities repeatedly filed a request for Bakiev’s extradition to the Prosecutor General’s Office but were denied. According to unconfirmed reports, Kurmanbek Bakiyev was granted Belarusian citizenship in 2010. Earlier this year, he reportedly bought a house on the outskirts of Minsk for $2 million.
Belsat
