A former regional lawmaker in Kyrgyzstan who reportedly had links to organized criminal groups has been gunned down in Kyrgyzstan.
Altynbek Arzymbaev, who was also known by his nickname "Jin" (Genie), was shot in downtown Bishkek late on August 26. He died a short time later in hospital.
A spokesman for the Bishkek Police Department, Bakyt Seitov, told RFE/RL on August 27 that witnesses said Arzymbaev was shot by a masked man who fled the scene.
Arzymbaev was elected as a local lawmaker in the northern city of Karakol in 2012.
Last month, he was dismissed from his duties after it was discovered he had a criminal record. The details of his criminal record were not made public.
Seitov says police from Bishkek's Oktyabr district are investigating his death.