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Kyrgyz Launch Hundreds Of Criminal Probes, Prepare Extradition Requests


Then-President Bakiev and friends in the Batken region in October 2009
Then-President Bakiev and friends in the Batken region in October 2009
Interim authorities in Kyrgyzstan have opened hundreds of criminal cases into possible wrongdoing under exiled President Kurmanbek Bakiev and say they are preparing extradition requests for former officials who fled to neighboring Kazakhstan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service and news agencies report.

Bakiev flew to Kazakhstan on April 15 after an arrangement for his resignation and departure was reached with mediation by the OSCE, Russia, and the United States.

The interim leadership, led by Roza Otunbaeva, says it will seek to have former National Security Service (SNB) Deputy Chairman Marat Bakiev, the son of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev; ex-SNB Chairman Murat Sutalinov; and former Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov returned to Kyrgyzstan to face charges.

Edil Baisalov, the Kyrgyz interim government's chief of staff, told journalists on April 16 that criminal cases had been opened against the three ousted officials, all of whom are believed to have fled to Kazakhstan.

In comments quoted by Reuters, Baisalov said 200 criminal cases had been opened and arrest warrants issued for a dozen Bakiev allies and family members.

Bakiev has dismissed as untrue any accusations of crimes by himself or his supporters.
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