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Russia will stay away from conflict between Belarus and Kyrgyzstan over Bakiyev, ambassador says

Russia will not intervene in the conflict between Minsk and Bishkek over the refusal of Belarusian authorities to extradite former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to Kyrgyzstan, Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Surikov told reporters in Minsk on Friday.

“When two people are fighting, why should the third person intervene?” Ambassador Surikov said. “You all know this saying. Belarus and Kyrgyzstan will sort things out themselves in accordance with rules and norms. We are not going to interfere in this matter.”

Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his family members and associates were given refuge by Belarus after a popular uprising in Kyrgyzstan in 2010. The new Kyrgyz government has repeatedly called for their extradition, accusing Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his brother Zhanybek of sanctioning gunfire on a crowd of protesters that left more than 80 people dead. In February 2013, a 24-year prison sentence was imposed on Kurmanbek Bakiyev in absentia on charges of abuse of power. Zhanybek Bakiyev was found guilty of multiple murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Belarus has condemned their prosecution as politically motivated and rejected all extradition requests.

Roza Otunbayeva, a former president of Kyrgyzstan, revealed during a conference in Bishkek this past April that Kurmanbek Bakiyev had been able to flee because she had allowed him to leave the country at the request of the presidents of Russia, the United States and Kazakhstan.

"I let Bakiyev leave the country and I'm ready to bear responsibility for this," Ms. Otunbayeva said, according to Kyrgyzstan's news agency 24.kg.

She explained that the continued presence of Mr. Bakiyev in the country could have led to a civil war. "We couldn't have ignored the advice of the presidents if those most powerful states," Ms. Otunbayeva said. "They promised us investment to rebuild what had been destroyed." //BelaPAN