Roza Otunbayeva: Prospects for Bakiyev’s extradition from Minsk are weak

Kyrgyzstan will continue requesting for extradition of ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev and hi family members, though the process of extradition is expected to take a long time.

“Prospects for extradition are still weak. This is a difficult and important issue. They (the Bakiyevs) pay much to lawyers who will resort to any subterfuges to protect them. The General Prosecutor’s Office has sent several requests to London… But what do our requests mean when even powerful Russia cannot gain extradition of Berezovsky and Zakayev from there?” Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva told RIA Novosti news agency on Wednesday.

“Let us start acting in the legal environment and we’ll settle the issue with Kurmanbek Bakiyev. It (extradition) will be a long process,” she said.

The interim government of Kyrgyzstan led by Roza Otunbayeva came to power after president Bakiyev had left the country in April and signed resignation. He was later deprived of a status of ex-president. The General Prosecutor’s Office of Kyrgyzstan demanded that Bakiyev should be extradited from Minsk, where he had been given political shelter.

The new authorities also put Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s closest associates, including his younger son Maksim who headed the Central Agency for Development and Investments, on the international wanted list. Maksim Bakiyev is charged with committing financial crimes and abuse of power. Bakiyev junior is in London now.