Kyrgyz Prime Minister Accused Of Accepting Horse As Bribe

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Omurbek Babnov has staked his reputation on fighting corruption.

A party in Kyrgyzstan's ruling coalition has accused Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov of accepting a horse as a bribe in exchange for granting government contracts.

The Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party said on August 13 it would seek a no-confidence motion in parliament against Babanov.

According to the party's leaders, a company that secured a building contract at the country's main airport imported the horse, valued at between $500,000 and $1.5 million, without paying import duties.

Ata-Meken leader Omurbek Tekebaev called for launching a probe against Babanov.

Babanov's office issued a statement saying the prime minister had bought the horse with his own money and that its value was vastly inferior to that suggested by Ata-Meken.

Babanov has staked his reputation on fighting corruption in the country.

Based on reporting by Interfax and AP