BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz authorities have confirmed the death of the former chief of the presidential office, Medet Sadyrkulov, in a car crash near Bishkek on March 13, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz service reports.
Three bodies were found burnt beyond recognition in the car wreck. The chief of the investigations department at the Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office, Uchkun Karimov, told RFE/RL that the second DNA test conducted by Kyrgyz experts has confirmed Sadyrkulov was among the victims.
The first DNA test performed by Russian experts in Moscow on March 30 also confirmed Sadyrkulov’s identity, but those results were not immediately released.
Kyrgyz Parliament Deputy Galina Kulikova told RFE/RL that Sadyrkulov will be buried near the village of Baytik on April 12. She said Sadyrkulov's relatives refused the authorities’ offer of a state funeral.
Kyrgyz opposition leaders say that the car crash was suspicious and that Sadyrkulov was in fact murdered. They demand a thorough investigation into the case.
Three bodies were found burnt beyond recognition in the car wreck. The chief of the investigations department at the Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office, Uchkun Karimov, told RFE/RL that the second DNA test conducted by Kyrgyz experts has confirmed Sadyrkulov was among the victims.
The first DNA test performed by Russian experts in Moscow on March 30 also confirmed Sadyrkulov’s identity, but those results were not immediately released.
Kyrgyz Parliament Deputy Galina Kulikova told RFE/RL that Sadyrkulov will be buried near the village of Baytik on April 12. She said Sadyrkulov's relatives refused the authorities’ offer of a state funeral.
Kyrgyz opposition leaders say that the car crash was suspicious and that Sadyrkulov was in fact murdered. They demand a thorough investigation into the case.
