Business Partner Of Ousted Kyrgyz President's Son Arrested In Italy

Maksim Bakiev, the son of former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev, is wanted in Kyrgyzstan.

A former business partner of Kyrgyzstan's ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev's son has been arrested in Rome, Italy.

Soviet-born U.S. citizen Yevgeny Gurevich was arrested on October 17 upon his arrival in Rome from the United States.

Gurevich worked as financial group MGN Capital's CEO in Bishkek and was a close associate of the ex-president's son, Maksim Bakiev.

He fled Kyrgyzstan in the wake of mass protests in April 2010 that toppled Kurmanbek Bakiev.

Gurevich had arrived in Italy to cooperate with Italian investigators who claim he had been involved in a large-scale money laundering.

Gurevich's lawyer in Italy told RFE/RL that his client was taken to an Italian detention center.

Last year, a court in Bishkek sentenced Gurevich in absentia to 15 years in prison for corruption.