Relatives Demand Investigation Into Kyrgyz Officials' Deaths

The scene of the accident in which the three were killed.

BISHKEK -- The relatives of a Kyrgyz politician and his two associates who were killed in an alleged traffic accident in March are demanding further investigations into the case, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

The families' lawyer, Leonid Luzhansky, said that he officially asked the government for another investigation into the case.

Medet Sadyrkulov, President Kurmanbek Bakiev's former chief of staff; Sergei Slepchenko, former director of the Presidential Institute of Strategic Research; and driver Kubat Sulaimanov were found in the charred wreckage of a car on March 13.

Another car, also burned out, was found next to them. Its driver, Omurbek Osmonov, was arrested for allegedly causing an accident that caused the cars to start on fire.

On May 18, Osmonov's lawyer said his client had changed his testimony and is also demanding additional investigations into the case.

Some opposition observers have claimed Sadyrkulov was killed in a staged car accident because he had left the government and was working with the opposition.