Kyrgyzstan has launched an investigation into the illegal issuance of a Kyrgyz national passport to a reputed Georgian crime kingpin.
The prosecutor in Kyrgyzstan's southern city of Osh, Atai Shakir Uulu, told RFE/RL on July 8 that a special investigative group has been established to conduct the probe.
Well-known Georgian crime boss Roman Barbakadze, known in criminal circles by his nickname Remen (Belt), was detained in Ukraine last month carrying a Kyrgyz national passport that had been issued by Osh city authorities in 2012.
Barbakadze's name was shown in the passport as Ramin Alkhozov.
Barbakadze was deported to Georgia at Tbilisi's request.