Accessibility links

Breaking News

Kyrgyz Parliament Calls For Officials' Resignations Over Crime Boss Release


An undated photo of Aziz Batukaev in Naryn prison
An undated photo of Aziz Batukaev in Naryn prison
BISHKEK -- The Kyrgyz parliament has called for the resignation of several top officials over the early release last month of organized crime boss Aziz Batukaev.

A resolution calling for the resignation of several top officials, including the ombudsman, interior minister, health minister and deputy prime minister got near-unanimous backing in parliament on May 30.

Batukaev, an ethnic Chechen, was sentenced to almost 17 years in jail in 2006 for his involvement in several crimes, including the murder of a Kyrgyz lawmaker and an interior ministry official.

Officials at the prison in the city of Naryn where Batukaev was serving his sentence had said he was freed in April after a court ordered his release based on medical findings that Batukaev suffers from leukemia.

A parliamentary commission said on May 29 that the medical findings were fake.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG