The former president of Kyrgyzstan was imprisoned for 30 years in absentia

The Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, accused former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev of corruption in the Kumtor mine and sentenced him to 30 years in absentia. This was reported by Cactus Media.

It is noted that the total term of the prison sentence was made taking into account Bakiyev's previous convictions. The court also decided to confiscate the property of the former president and prohibit him from working in public service for 3 years after serving his sentence.

Maxim Bakiyev, his business partner Aleksey Yeliseyev and four other people were sentenced in the same case. They were sentenced to 9 to 13 years in prison. All convicts will have their property confiscated, and they will also be barred from public office for three years after release.

According to the publication, the court case concerns the contract concluded between Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the Kyrgyz government and "Kyrgyzoltin", "Tsenterra gold", "Kumtor gold company" and "Kumtor operating company" on the Kumtor mine.

In 2021, the Kyrgyz National Security State Committee initiated several criminal cases related to corruption in this field. The security forces searched for two fugitive presidents: Askar Akayev and Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who were suspected of abuse of power.

In January 2023, the criminal case against former president Askar Akayev regarding corruption in the Kumtor mine was stopped. "Criminal prosecution against Askar Akayev has been terminated due to the expiration of the statute of limitations for bringing the person to criminal responsibility," said Asilbek Akmatov, head of the international legal cooperation department of the Prosecutor General's Office of Kyrgyzstan.

Kumtor is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia, located in the Issyk-Kul region of northern Kyrgyzstan, 60 km from the border with China, at an altitude of more than 4 meters.

Kurmanbek Bakiyev was the president of Kyrgyzstan in 2005-2010. He came to power as a result of the "tulip revolution" against Askar Akayev. In 2009, he was re-elected as the head of state. On April 7, 2010, clashes between the authorities and the opposition took place in the center of Bishkek, in which more than 80 people were killed and more than 300 were injured. Bakiyev was overthrown and left the country.

In 2013, Bakiyev was found guilty of committing a crime under the article "abuse of official authority" in Kyrgyzstan and was sentenced to 24 years in prison in absentia.

In 2014, British businessman Sean Daly was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder.

In December 2022, a rehabilitation center for disabled children was opened in his luxury home in Bishkek.

At the moment, Bakiyev is in Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko granted him political asylum.

Source: Kun.uz