Kyrgyz Presidential Office's Ex-Chief Detained

Daniyar Narymbaev faces charges of corruption, bribe-taking, and abuse of office.

BISHKEK -- The former chief of Kyrgyzstan's presidential office has been detained for alleged extortion of bribes.

The State Committee for National Security says Daniyar Narymbaev was detained on July 22 after investigators interrogated him and lawmaker Khajimurat Korkmazov.

Korkmazov was detained last week while allegedly receiving $100,000 as a bribe from relatives of former lawmaker Nariman Tuleev, who was convicted on corruption charges in 2013.

Narymbaev faces charges of corruption, bribe-taking, and abuse of office.

President Almazbek Atambaev relieved Narymbaev from his post as chief of the presidential office on July 20, five days after Korkmazov was detained.

Narymbaev stated then that he was innocent, describing the situation as "an attempt to damage the government's reputation."