Kyrgyz Social Protection Official Transferred To House Arrest

Gulnara Derbisheva

BISHKEK -- An arrested official of the Kyrgyz Social Protection Ministry has been transferred from a Bishkek detention center to house arrest.

Gulnara Derbisheva was detained in August while allegedly accepting a $7,000 bribe.

She was later charged with accepting bribes worth some $30,000 during her tenure as deputy social protection minister in connection with arranging the adoptions of Kyrgyz children.

Her lawyer told RFE/RL that his client was allowed to stay home while investigations continue into the case, due to the fact that she has six underage children and a handicapped husband.

Also in August, former Social Protection Minister Ravshan Sabirov was arrested for allegedly accepting bribes and later transferred to house arrest.