Lukashenka: I’ll receive Bakiyev as the most distinguished guest

The Belarusian dictator said the ousted Kurmanbek Bakiyev remains a “legitimately elected president” for him.

Kurmanbek Bakiyev stays in Kazakhstan at the moment, Alyaksandr Lukashenka told journalists on April 18, BelTA reports.

“It seems strange to me that the people who know where Bakiyev is don’t tell about this,” the ruler said. “I have heard today from the Russian media, from their main media, that location of Bakiyev is allegedly unknown. But these people know everything.”

“Karmanbek Bakiyev and his family, wife, five-year old son and nine-year old daughter, stay southern Kazakhstan,” Lukashenka emphasized. According to him, talks about lack of information are “funny, odd and even blasphemous”.

“They know everything: where he stays now, what he does and how the events developed,” he said. “The temporary government of Kyrgyzstan, as well as Russia and Kazakhstan are main players here. I also suspect that the US is also involved,” the Belarusian ruler said adding: “I think I will have an opportunity to discuss these issues with the president of Kyrgyzstan and check if I am right.”

Lukashenka thinks: “My colleagues in Kazakhstan and maybe Russia don’t want to keep the overthrown Kyrgyz president in their countries, as a criminal case was instigated against him.”

“You know, a great disgrace for the interim Kyrgyz authorities as that they probably expect Bakiyev to leave Kazakhstan in order to put him on international wanted list,” Lukashenka said.

“If Kurmanbek Bakiyev hears me and expresses a wish to come to our country today, or tomorrow, we won’t hide him in Belarus, he will be received as the most distinguished guest, as my colleague, as the president of Kyrgyzstan,” the Belarusian ruler said.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka again confirmed that “If president of Kyrgyzstan and his family need help and support in this difficult time, he can receive it in Belarus.” “We are ready to receive him here. I know that all media will criticize me now,” he said.

Lukashenka noted it was his personal decision as the head of state. “I have the right to take such decisions. Some people can criticize me, others won’t criticize, but betrayal is the most disgraceful thing in the world,” Lukashenka stressed.

The Belarusian ruler also added that if Kurmanbek Bakiyev wanted to hold a press conference in Minsk, “he will be able to do it freely”. “Then we’ll see what country is more democratic – Belarus or others states. I think he can tell al lot,” the dictator said. Lukashenka still considers Kurmanbek Bakiyev to be the legitimate president of Kyrgyzstan. “For me, he is still a president of the country,” he emphasized.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka added one shouldn’t trust the signatures under the resignation letter, shown by certain media.”

“Even if he had announced his resignation, you should understand the conditions he found himself in. he has small children, he and his family were blocked in the mounts, there was a threat of a civil war. This man found himself all alone in isolation. What a decision could he take under these conditions?” the ruler wondered.

Lukashenka stressed: “for me, he is a president of a friendly country. I believe that Kyrgyzstan would get on feet in two or three years. Instead of conducing a war in Afghanistan, spending billions of dollars and killing people, the Americans would have helped the people of Kyrgyzstan to get the country on its feet.”

Lukashenka noted that the events are developing as he had predicted. “The south of Kyrgyzstan is on fire. People storm administrative buildings in Jalalabad and Osh. People defend the brother of the deposed president and his relatives,” Lukashenka stated. “On this occasion I’d like to address the people of Kyrgyzstan: do not allow betrayal of your president. It would be an awful mistake.”

The Belarusian ruler stressed: “Only people has the right to bring the president to answer. Not bands, groups, or the oppositon, only people.”

“If you are so democratic, a real way out of the current situation would be early presidential, or even parliamentary elections. All people, including Kurmanbel Bakiyev, should be given the right to run in the elections,” Lukashenka believes.