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Kyrgyzstan seeks US explanation why case against ex-leader’s son dropped

Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry has filed an official request to the United States

BISHKEK, May 10 (Itar-Tass) - Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry has filed an official request to the United States to explain why a criminal case against Maxim Bakiyev, the son of the Central Asian republic’s former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was dropped.

“The relevant request has already been sent to the U.S,” the head of the Foreign Ministry’s western states department, Daniar Mukashev, told reporters on Wednesday.

The issue of sending a note to the United States on this case is not discussed, as at first “it is necessary to study versions of the American side.”

Mukashev recalled that earlier Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldayev at the meeting with U.S. ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Pamela L. Spratlen expressed disappointment at the U.S. authorities’ decision to drop the criminal case.

Last March Kyrgyzstan’s court sentenced Maxim Bakiyev in absentia to 25 years in prison for committing several crimes. Maxim Bakiyev fled Kyrgyzstan several days ahead of the revolution which overthrew his father and moved to London. He was considered to occupy the role of ‘grey cardinal’ in Kyrgyzstan.

In autumn 2012 the U.S. authorities filed a request to the UK on extradition of Bakiyev accusing him of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and obstruction of justice. The extradition issue should have been considered on May 13, but several days before this date the United States announced that it cleared Bakiyev of charges.

Abdyldayev highlighted that Bishkek would do its utmost to bring the ex-president’s son to responsibility. “We will consistently seek Bakiyev’s extradition and punishment to the full extent of the law,” he said.

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