Rally outside Belarus embassy in Bishkek demands Bakievs' extradition
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 27 February 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Rally outside Belarus embassy in Bishkek demands Bakievs' extradition, 27 February 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/550941410.html [accessed 20 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 27, 2015
By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service
BISHKEK – Dozens of protesters rallied outside the Belarusian Embassy in Bishkek, demanding the extradition of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev and his brother Janysh.
Protesters at the February 27 demonstration held placards reading: "Bakievs Are Murderers" and "Belarus, Do Not Give Shelter to Criminals!"
Embassy personnel would not come out so the group handed a petition demanding the Bakievs' extradition to the embassy security service.
On February 27, President Almazbek Atambaev issued a highly emotional statement, urging Belarus authorities to extradite the Bakiev brothers, calling them "villains" of the "bestial and cannibalistic nature."
Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry said separately on February 26 that a witness in a killing of Kyrgyz crime boss Almambet Anapiyaev, who was found dead in Minsk last week, told Kyrgyz investigators Anapiyaev met with Janysh Bakiev the day he died.
Kurmanbek and Janysh Bakiev 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 headed the state bodyguards' service at the time.
Both have resided in Belarus since then. Minsk has rejected previous requests for their extradition.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
