Kyrgyz government wants to put ex-president on trial
April 14th, 2010 - 9:17 pm ICT by IANSBishkek, April 14 (DPA) Kyrgyzstan’s new government said Wednesday the ousted president of the central Asian republic must go on trial over the recent unrest that claimed dozens of lives.
Interim leader Roza Otunbayeva said ex-president Kurmanbek Bakiyev would not be granted immunity from prosecution because he has “blood on his hands”.
Bakiyev, who fled the capital for his power base in the south of country, has not resigned but said he was prepared to give up power in return “for guarantees of safe passage for myself and my family.”
Media reports said Bakiyev had agreed in principle to appear before an independent court, and justified firing on the protesters as a necessity to protect law and order.
The ousted president also spoke with UN special envoy Jan Kubis, who urged him to do everything possible to ensure the stability of the country.
Prosecutors have issued arrested warrants for Bakiyev’s brothers and his son, Maxim, on murder charges related to the deaths of more than 80 people in last week’s uprising.
The situation prompted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to refer to the danger of a civil war erupting in Kyrgyzstan.
Medvedev, who was speaking at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said: “Kyrgyzstan is our neighbour and least of all we’d like to see (it) as a failed state. The most important thing is to prevent civil war there - (the country) is on the brink of civil war. And a civil war could attract terrorists of all kinds.”
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the former leadership of “stealing nearly everything they could” when they fled Bishkek. Russia has given the new government $50 million in aid.
US special envoy Rover Blake also promised assistance to the new government, following a meeting with Otumbayeva in the Kyrgz capital. The US has an air force base in Kyrgyzstan, which it uses to supply its troops in Afghanistan.
Observers say that Bakiyev pushed impoverished Kyrgyzstan ever deeper into poverty through authoritarian methods, cronyism and criminally corrupt structures.
- Russia owes rent on military bases: Kyrgyz president - Dec 29, 2011
- Kyrgyz President Otunbayeva refuses participating in upcoming fall elections - Feb 22, 2011
- Calm returns to Kyrgyzstan after uprising - Apr 09, 2010
- Kyrgyz PM Atambayev set to win presidential poll - Oct 31, 2011
- Belarus refuses to extradite brother of Kyrgyz ex-president - Sep 06, 2012
- Kyrgyzstan's head reveals overthrown President left only 80 million dollars in budget - Apr 10, 2010
- 49 killed in Kyrgyz violence - Jun 12, 2010
- Report: Kyrgyzstan governor says President Bakiyev resigns amid deadly coup - Apr 08, 2010
- Otunbayeva sworn in as Kyrgyz president - Jul 03, 2010
- Kyrgyzstan seeks Russian help to control violence (Lead) - Jun 12, 2010
- Toll in Kyrgyz violence rises to 117 - Jun 14, 2010
- Moscow turns down Kyrgyzstan's request for help (Second Lead) - Jun 13, 2010
- Belarusian embassy in Kyrgyzstan attacked - Aug 29, 2012
- Medvedev, Obama donate wheelchairs to Kyrgyz kids - Dec 09, 2011
- Ethnic rioting in Kyrgyzstan claims 117 lives - Jun 14, 2010
Tags: 50 million, april 14, asian republic, brink, brookings institution, dmitry medvedev, government said wednesday, immunity from prosecution, interim leader, jan kubis, kurmanbek bakiyev, law and order, murder charges, protesters, roza otunbayeva, russian president, russian prime minister, safe passage, troops in afghanistan, vladimir putin