English

Ousted Kyrgyz leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev says that he is still president

Ousted Kyrgyz leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev on April 21 held a news conference in Minsk to denounce his country’s interim government as a gang of imposters and say that “only death” could remove him from the office, as quoted by BelaPAN.

Mr. Bakiyev offered his “deep condolences” to relatives and friends of those killed in an uprising against his five-year rule that left 83 people dead.

“I do not recognize my resignation,” he said. “Nine months ago, the people of Kyrgyzstan elected me as president and I swore an oath to serve them. There is no force that could cause me to recant. Only death can stop me."

He said that he was "the legitimately elected president of Kyrgyzstan recognized by the international community.”

Mr. Bakiyev branded the provisional government proclaimed by the country’s opposition as bandits and said that he wanted “every citizen of Kyrgyzstan to understand that by executing the gang’s orders, he will become an outlaw and an accomplice in crimes with the ensuing consequences."

“I call on the leaders of the international community not to create a precedent by recognizing the gang as a legitimate government,” he said. “I demand that an international independent investigation be carried out and those guilty of deaths, looting and the incitement of ethnic hatred be punished.”

"I am appealing to the political leaders of the CIS,” Mr. Bakiyev said. “Don’t shrink back in the face of crude force. You are responsible for your people.”

Mr. Bakiyev said that he would “do everything possible to restore the constitutional rule” in Kyrgyzstan. “Under no circumstances, I will allow the bandits to determine the fate of our people,” he said.

In his Tuesday annual address to the National Assembly, Alyaksandr Lukashenka revealed that the ousted president of Kyrgyzstan had been staying in Minsk with his family members since early Monday morning. “They are currently under the protection of our state and the personal protection of your president,” Mr. Lukashenka said.

Kyrgyzstan`s interim government said that it expected Minsk to surrender Mr. Bakiyev “for his trial for numerous crimes against the Kyrgyz people.”

Mr. Bakiyev fled Kyrgyzstan last week after the bloody uprising. He took refuge in neighboring Kazakhstan and then left Kazakhstan for a destination that had not been clear, after the Belarusian leader had said that Mr. Bakiyev would be welcome in his country.