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Kyrgyz Prime Minister Accused Of Accepting Horse As Bribe


Kyrgyz Prime Minister Omurbek Babnov has staked his reputation on fighting corruption.
Kyrgyz Prime Minister Omurbek Babnov has staked his reputation on fighting corruption.
A party in Kyrgyzstan's ruling coalition has accused Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov of accepting a horse as a bribe in exchange for granting government contracts.

The Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party said on August 13 it would seek a no-confidence motion in parliament against Babanov.

According to the party's leaders, a company that secured a building contract at the country's main airport imported the horse, valued at between $500,000 and $1.5 million, without paying import duties.

Ata-Meken leader Omurbek Tekebaev called for launching a probe against Babanov.

Babanov's office issued a statement saying the prime minister had bought the horse with his own money and that its value was vastly inferior to that suggested by Ata-Meken.

Babanov has staked his reputation on fighting corruption in the country.

Based on reporting by Interfax and AP
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