Kyrgyz President Dismisses Ambassador To Belarus

Erik Asanaliev (file photo)

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has dismissed Bishkek's ambassador to Belarus, Erik Asanaliev.

No official explanation for the dismissal was given.

The Kyrgyz government recalled Asanaliev to Bishkek "for consultations" one week ago after the Belarusian regime ignored a Kyrgyz request for the extradition of Janysh Bakiev, the younger brother of Kyrgyzstan's ousted president, Kurmanbek Bakiev.

Janysh Bakiev, accused of felonies by the Kyrgyz authorities, was allegedly photographed in Minsk in mid-August.

Kurmanbek Bakiev has been living in Belarus since his 2010 ouster.

The Bakiev brothers are being tried in absentia in Kyrgyzstan in connection with the deaths of nearly 100 people killed during the April 2010 upheaval.

Last week, Kyrgyzstan appealed to the Commonwealth of Independent States' Executive Committee for assistance with securing the extradition of Janysh Bakiev.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax