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By Country / Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz President Appoints Acting Prosecutor-General

March 20, 2007

Former Prosecutor-General Kambaraly Kongantiev was dismissed March 19 (file photo) (RFE/RL)

March 20, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev has appointed Elmurza Satybaldiev acting prosecutor-general, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Satybaldiev previously held the post of deputy chairman of the State Committee on National Security.

A spokesman for the Prosecutor-General's Office, Toktogul Kakchekeev, told RFE/RL today that staff members praised former Prosecutor-General Kambaraly Kongantiev for his work.

"[Kyrgyz presidential administration officials] introduced the new head to [the Prosecutor-General's Office] staff," Kakchekeev said. "[Staff members] gave their good wishes and blessing to former [Prosecutor-General Kambaraly Kongantiev], saying that they had worked well with him and they wished him all the best in the future."

Kongantiev was dismissed from his post on March 19.

Kyrgyz opposition and human rights activists have been calling for his dismissal. The calls came in connection with the deportation of Uzbek refugees last year and poor performance in corruption cases, involving family members of former President Askar Akaev and for the investigation of the 2002 Aksy tragedy in which security forces killed six protesters.

Meanwhile, Osmonali Guronov has been appointed first deputy interior minister. He occupied the post of Security Council Secretary until his dismissal last week.

(with material from AKIpress)