Bakiyev’s status in Minsk unknown

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus doesn’t comment on the information about whether Kurmanbek Bakiyev asked for asylum in Belarus.

“I’m afraid I am not ably to satisfy the interest of the press in this issue. According to the Belarusian legislation, information about the persons applying for asylum cannot be disclosed,” Syarhei Matus, deputy head of the department on citizenship and migration of the Belarusian Interior Minister, said at a press conference, Interfax news agency reports.

He added: “To get an answer to the question, one should address a person applying for asylum if he or she agrees to speak about this.”

Kurmanbek Bakiyev has been in Belarus since April 19. It was a personal decision of Alyaksandr Lukashenka to give him political shelter. The decision caused protests of new Kyrgyz authorities and relatives of the demonstrators killed on an order by Bakiyev. Pickets are often organized near the Embassy of Belarus in Bishkek. The new Kyrgyz authorities demand Bakiyev be extradited, but the Belarusian authorities deny extradition.