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Court acquits Kyrgyz officials accused of importing radioactive coal

In 2011 several thousand tons of coal from Kazakhstan were purchased for the Bishkek thermal power plant. Part of the coal was supplied to children's institutions in Chuisk region

BISHKEK, November 14 (Itar-Tass) — The Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday acquitted a group of former high-placed officials accused of importing a large batch of radioactive coal from Kazakhstan.

"The prosecutor's supervisory presentation has not been granted," the press service of the Supreme Court told Itar-Tass.

"All of them were found not guilty because of a lack of corpus delicti in their actions," A Supreme Court official said.

In the autumn of 2011, several thousand tons of coal from Kazakhstan's Kulan fields were purchased for the Bishkek thermal power plant. Part of the coal was supplied to children's institutions in the Chuisk region.

Several weeks later, it was ascertained that the radiation level of the fuel dozens of times exceeded the natural background level.

The Kyrgyz authorities scrambled to take out the fuel from the kindergartens and schools and began talks with Kazakhstan on returning the fuel. Eventually, the suppliers agreed to take the coal back to Kazakhstan at their expense.

Criminal proceedings were opened over the fact, and several high-placed officials were charged, including former Minister of Energy and Industry Askarbek Shadiyev.

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