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Bishkek mayor resigns: no link to abuse charges, he says

Criminal charges have been leveled against Omurkulov and a number of subordinates, accusing them of abuse of office and violation of the Labor Code

Bishkek ITAR-TASS/Anatoly Markovkin

Bishkek

© ITAR-TASS/Anatoly Markovkin

BISHKEK, December 04. /ITAR-TASS/. The mayor of Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, has resigned from his post, denying that his decision was prompted by abuse of offfice charges brought against him two days ago.

"One might presume my decision to resign was connected with a recently opened criminal case. In fact, it was not," said Isa Omurkulov, telling a news briefing on Wednesday that he had resigned of his own free will, offering no further details.

Criminal charges have been leveled against Omurkulov and a number of subordinates, accusing them of abuse of office and violation of the Labor Code. They are suspected of aportioning part of Bishkek's Victory Park for illegal purposes.

Omurkulov was appointed mayor after the April 2010 revolution brought down former Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

He told reporters: "As city mayor, I did my best to improve the city. I hope I have left good memories in the history of Bishkek, which was extremely difficult.

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