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Belarus refuses to extradite brother of former Kyrgyz president

05 September 2012 22:53 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The Belarusian Prosecutor General’s Office Wednesday declined the request made by Kyrgyz prosecutors to extradite Zhanybek Bakiyev, the brother of Kyrgyzstan’s former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Taking into account the events in Kyrgyzstan and the nature of charges laid against Bakiyev, the Belarusian side believes that the extradition request was filed due to persecution for political beliefs and was thus rejected," said a spokesman with the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Belarusian authority had considered the Kyrgyz prosecutors’ request for the extradition of Zhanybek Bakiyev back in June, said the office.

According to the statement, Kyrgyzstan should adopt a more sensible position on the situation with the Bakiyev family. Otherwise it will be difficult for Bishkek to prove its constructive and partner-like ambitions on the country’s path to the Customs Union.

Kyrgyzstan has repeatedly asked Belarus to extradite a brother of the republic’s ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who has been put on the Interpol wanted list on charges of triple murder.

Kyrgyzstan recalled its ambassador to Belarus after images of Zhanybek Bakiyev and his two assistants near a restaurant in Minsk appeared on the internet.