Kyrgyz president asks Belarus to extradite 'cannibalistic' Bakievs
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 26 February 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kyrgyz president asks Belarus to extradite 'cannibalistic' Bakievs, 26 February 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5509412d6.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
February 26, 2015
By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service
BISHKEK – The leader of Kyrgyzstan has strongly urged Belarus to extradite former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev and his brother Janysh Bakiev, calling his predecessor's family "monsters" and "cannibalistic" killers.
In a statement released by his office on February 26, President Almazbek Atambaev said that Belarus has "given shelter to villains."
The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said separately that a witness in a killing of Kyrgyz crime boss Almambet Anapiyaev, who was found dead in Minsk last week, has told Kyrgyz investigators that Anapiyaev met with Janysh Bakiev on the day he died.
"Who else do the Bakievs have to kill before Belarusian authorities will at last see the bestial and cannibalistic nature of this criminal family? Those monsters will shed blood anywhere, where they are, including Belarus that provided a shelter to them," Atambaev said.
The brothers were sentenced to life in prison in absentia after being convicted of involvement in the killing of protesters during the uprising that ousted Kurmanbek Bakiev in 2010.
Janysh Bakiev headed the state bodyguards service at the time.
Both fled to Belarus, which has rejected previous requests for their extradition.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
