BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General Kubatbek Baibolov says that some of the newly elected parliament deputies have pending criminal cases against them, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Baibolov told RFE/RL today that the deputies have immunity from prosecution and can only face charges if parliament votes to lift that immunity.
"There are several people [in the new parliament] against whom criminal cases have been launched, and some of them have been officially charged with a crime," Baibolov said. "And now, according to the new constitution, we need the new parliament's agreement to bring them to court, and usually parliament doesn't let this happen.
"I think that's what could happen now. But criminal cases against them will not be closed. They will be suspended [until the end of their terms] and then will be continued."
Former Bishkek Mayor Nariman Tuleev and former Transport and Communications Minister Nurlan Sulaimanov, who served in those positions under ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev, are members of the new parliament elected on October 10. Both belong to the Ata-Jurt (Native Land) party and are suspected of corruption.
The Prosecutor-General's Office has also launched an investigation into Ata-Jurt leader Kamchybek Tashiev's alleged role in stirring up interregional tensions. During the election campaign, Tashiev organized several public gatherings where he accused the current government of giving preference to politicians from the north of the country.
Baibolov also told RFE/RL that despite all current agreements with fellow members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia have ignored Bishkek's request to extradite Kyrgyz suspects living in these countries to Kyrgyzstan.
Bakiev has been residing in Belarus at the invitation of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka since April. Belarusian authorities have officially refused to extradite Bakiev to Kyrgyzstan.
Baibolov told RFE/RL today that the deputies have immunity from prosecution and can only face charges if parliament votes to lift that immunity.
"There are several people [in the new parliament] against whom criminal cases have been launched, and some of them have been officially charged with a crime," Baibolov said. "And now, according to the new constitution, we need the new parliament's agreement to bring them to court, and usually parliament doesn't let this happen.
"I think that's what could happen now. But criminal cases against them will not be closed. They will be suspended [until the end of their terms] and then will be continued."
Former Bishkek Mayor Nariman Tuleev and former Transport and Communications Minister Nurlan Sulaimanov, who served in those positions under ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev, are members of the new parliament elected on October 10. Both belong to the Ata-Jurt (Native Land) party and are suspected of corruption.
The Prosecutor-General's Office has also launched an investigation into Ata-Jurt leader Kamchybek Tashiev's alleged role in stirring up interregional tensions. During the election campaign, Tashiev organized several public gatherings where he accused the current government of giving preference to politicians from the north of the country.
Baibolov also told RFE/RL that despite all current agreements with fellow members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia have ignored Bishkek's request to extradite Kyrgyz suspects living in these countries to Kyrgyzstan.
Bakiev has been residing in Belarus at the invitation of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka since April. Belarusian authorities have officially refused to extradite Bakiev to Kyrgyzstan.