Kyrgyz Ex-President's Former Son-In-Law Detained In Moscow

Adil Toighanbaev is a former son-in-law of Askar Akaev, who fled to Russia amid a public groundswell of anger at his administration in March 2005, which was subsequently dubbed in Western media a "Tulip Revolution."

BISHKEK -- The former son-in-law of ousted Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev has been detained in Moscow on an Interpol warrant.

Adil Toighanbaev's lawyer, Ikramidin Aitkulov, told RFE/RL that his client was detained at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow on February 9 as he was on his way to Western Europe.

Toighanbaev has been detained for two days while his possible extradition to Kyrgyzstan is being decided.

Aitkulov said he is sure Toighanbaev will not be extradited.

Toighanbaev, a Kazakh national, is the former husband of Akaev's daughter Bermet Akaeva.

He is wanted in Kyrgyzstan for alleged tax evasion and financial fraud.

Last summer, authorities in neighboring Kazakhstan detained Toighanbaev at Interpol's request but refused to extradite him to Kyrgyzstan, saying they do not extradite Kazakh citizens to foreign countries.