BISHKEK -- A Kyrgyz official says the country's former energy minister has been detained in Ireland, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Deputy Interior Minister Melis Turganbaev told RFE/RL Saparbek Balkybekov was detained at the house of one of his relatives in Dublin.
Turganbaev did not give the exact date of Balkybekov's detention. There's been no confirmation from Irish police.
Balkybekov served in the government of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev and as with many other former officials he is wanted on charges of corruption, financial mishandling, and theft.
Following Bakiev’s ouster in the wake of mass antigovernment protests in April, the interim government that took power issued international arrest warrants for Bakiev, some of his relatives, and a number of ousted officials.
According to Turganbaev, the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry has filed documents concerning Balkybekov's case and sent them to the Prosecutor-General's Office. His possible extradition to Kyrgyzstan will be decided after that.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
Deputy Interior Minister Melis Turganbaev told RFE/RL Saparbek Balkybekov was detained at the house of one of his relatives in Dublin.
Turganbaev did not give the exact date of Balkybekov's detention. There's been no confirmation from Irish police.
Balkybekov served in the government of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev and as with many other former officials he is wanted on charges of corruption, financial mishandling, and theft.
Following Bakiev’s ouster in the wake of mass antigovernment protests in April, the interim government that took power issued international arrest warrants for Bakiev, some of his relatives, and a number of ousted officials.
According to Turganbaev, the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry has filed documents concerning Balkybekov's case and sent them to the Prosecutor-General's Office. His possible extradition to Kyrgyzstan will be decided after that.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
