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Bishkek disappointed at US decision to drop case against ex-leader’s son

Last March Kyrgyzstan’s court sentenced Maxim Bakiyev in absentia to 25 years in prison for committing several crimes

BISHKEK, May 10 (Itar-Tass) - Kyrgyzstan has expressed disappointment at the U.S. authorities’ decision to drop a criminal case against Maxim Bakiyev, the son of the Central Asian republic’s former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry told Itar-Tass.

On Friday Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldayev met with U.S. ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Pamela L. Spratlen, who informed that New York’s court decided to drop the case over an insufficient evidential base.

Spratlen said the U.S. Department of Justice was a competent body in this issue.

“The American authorities at all levels pointed to gravity of the crimes committed by Bakiyev in compliance with the U.S. legislation. But, unfortunately, one of the main principles of democracy - the supremacy of law and the inevitability of punishment - failed to work,” Abdyldayev said.

He 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.”

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. Until then he was considered to occupy the role of ‘grey cardinal’ in Kyrgyzstan. Maxim Bakiyev moved to London. Last autumn he was accused by the U.S. authorities of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and obstruction of justice. The United States wanted to demand his extradition from Britain.

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