Ousted president quits Kyrgyzstan, flees to Kazakhstan

[tioliaohuat]

BISHKEK: Ousted Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev on Thursday left the country for neighbouring Kazakhstan, in a surprise move coordinated by Russia and the United States aimed at quelling flaring tensions.

Bakiyev made the dramatic late evening exit by plane from his home stronghold of Jalalabad in south Kyrgyzstan, the first time he had quit the country since violent protests that killed 84 swept him from power last week.

"This evening Kurmanbek Bakiyev flew out of Jalalabad on a plane to Kazakhstan," an official in Kyrgyzstan's interim government told AFP.

Ilias Omarov, spokesman for the Kazakh foreign ministry, said he landed at around 1500 GMT at the airport in Taraz, a city in southern Kazakhstan on the border with Kyrgyzstan.

It was not clear what Bakiyev's further movements would be or if he intended to return to Kyrgyzstan.

But the Kyrgyz interim government in a statement described his departure as a "deportation" and said it would later seek his transfer to a Kyrgyz or international court for trial.

The foreign minister of Kazakhstan, who currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the OSCE, a trans-Atlantic security body, said Bakiyev's flight had been jointly arranged by the presidents of Russia and the United States.

"As a result of joint efforts of Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, US President Barack Obama and Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev... an agreement was reached with the Interim Government of Kyrgyzstan and President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on his departure from the country," Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev said.

Bakiyev's departure is "an important step towards the stabilisation of the situation" that would help prevent civil war in Kyrgyzstan, Saudabayev said in a statement on the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe website.

Amid intense behind-the-scenes diplomacy, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held telephone talks with Bakiyev on Wednesday, his spokesman said, although the content of the discussion was not made public.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had this week warned that Kyrgyzstan is standing on the brink of civil war, in an apparent effort to put pressure on Bakiyev into formally resigning.

Putin also held talks late Thursday with Nazarbayev and Kyrgyzstan's interim leader Roza Otunbayeva, Russian news agencies said, but details of the conversations were not disclosed.

Earlier on Thursday Bakiyev had expressed his willingness to leave the country in comments reported by local Kyrgyz media.

"My next destination is now being discussed by the presidents of Russia, Kazakshtan and even the United States. Nursultan Nazarbayev personally invited me to Kazakhstan," the ousted president was quoted as saying.

"However, understanding the situation in the country, I welcome the start of negotiations and am ready to accept any offers."

Otunbayeva had this week demanded that Bakiyev face trial for "spilling blood" during the protests amid fears that the standoff could erupt into civil war.

Kyrgyz media reported that interim government had arrested former defence minister Baktybek Kaliyev, accusing the key ally of Bakiyev of giving orders to fire on unarmed civilians.

Bakiyev's departure came as Robert Blake, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian affairs, was in Bishkek as the first senior US official to visit Kyrgyzstan since the uprising.

"The United States strongly supports the efforts of the OSCE and the Kazakhstan chairman in office to find a resolution to the situation involving Mr Bakiyev," he told reporters earlier.

Washington is keen to maintain influence in Kyrgyzstan because the country hosts the Manas air base, which US forces use to support military operations in nearby Afghanistan. The interim government has promised to honour past accords.

Bakiyev came to power in a popular uprising known as the Tulip Revolution in 2005, but in recent years he came under increasing criticism for authoritarianism and corruption. - AFP/de

 

[Received_by_Kings]

Wow wow wee wo!!! Tourism advisor Borat would give him all the help that he needs there, even before his own government does.

 

[postnew]

New interim government's chief of staff, Edil Baisalov, shows the letter of resignation by the deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in Bishkek, April 16, 2010. Bakiyev formally resigned in a handwritten letter sent to Kyrgyzstan's new leaders, officials said on Friday, allaying fears of civil war in the strategic Central Asian country.​

 

[Received_by_Kings]

New interim government's chief of staff, Edil Baisalov, shows the letter of resignation by the deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in Bishkek, April 16, 2010. Bakiyev formally resigned in a handwritten letter sent to Kyrgyzstan's new leaders, officials said on Friday, allaying fears of civil war in the strategic Central Asian country.​

The handwriting is very nice, but the guy looks extremely nerdy.

 

[postnew]

Kyrgyzstan shaken by new round of deadly violence
20 April 2010

BISHKEK: New unrest broke out in Kyrgyzstan on Monday as two people were killed in ethnic riots, local media said, amid mystery over the whereabouts of the country's ousted president.
Ethnic Kyrgyz rioters seized plots of land from Russians and Turks in Mayevka, a village outside the capital Bishkek, prompting the country's interim government to send in hundreds of police to quell the unrest.
"The police and internal forces have established order in the village. Forty instigators of the riots have been arrested," the head of the interim government, Roza Otunbayeva, told reporters.
A source in the Kyrgyz interior ministry told AFP that around 600 police supported by armoured personnel carriers were patrolling Mayevka after the violence that reportedly left two people dead.
Two people were killed and 13 injured in the riots, the 24.kg news website reported, citing medical sources.
Earlier, Bishkek emergency services said one person had died in Mayevka and six others were being treated for gunshot wounds.
Mayevka is home to a mix of Russians, Kyrgyz and Meskhetian Turks, a group that lived in Georgia until 1944 when they were deported to Central Asia by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
"Kyrgyz from different regions of Kyrgyzstan are setting houses on fire and taking land from Turks and Russians," Viktor, a Russian resident of Mayevka, told AFP by telephone from his neighbour's house where he was hiding.
"This is a real war," said Viktor, who asked that his last name not be published for fear of reprisals.

In a chaotic day, the rioters seized land in Mayevka before marching on central Bishkek, eyewitnesses and local media reports said.
In Bishkek they forced the city's acting mayor, Isa Omurkulov, to sign a document authorising the handover of the land they had seized earlier, the official Kabar news agency reported.
The violence was the latest challenge to the interim government which seized power in Kyrgyzstan this month after a popular uprising that ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
So far the interim government has failed to establish full control over the country, a mountainous former Soviet republic which is home to a US air base used to supply operations in nearby Afghanistan.
Bakiyev, the country's toppled president, was confirmed on Monday to have left Kazakhstan, where he was flown last week in an action coordinated by world powers aimed at quelling tensions in Kyrgyzstan.
"Yes, he left," Kazakh foreign ministry spokesman Ilyas Omarov told AFP. But he said it was unclear where the ousted president had gone, and no further details on Bakiyev's departure were available.
There has been no confirmation of Bakiyev's location since his arrival in the southern Kazakh city of Taraz on Thursday.
Bakiyev is wanted by the interim Kyrgyz government in connection with the shootings of demonstrators during the protests in early April that culminated in his overthrow.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, who voiced anger over Bakiyev's ousting, has offered Bakiyev sanctuary in Belarus - but officials in Minsk have in recent days vehemently denied that he has arrived there.
The death toll in the early April uprising that triggered Bakiyev's downfall rose to 85 on Monday as another person died in hospital, the Kyrgyz health ministry said. - AFP/de

Rioters travel on top of a car during an unrest in the village of Mayevka near Bishkek April 19, 2010. Kyrgyzstan's interim rulers faced renewed resistance and lawlessness on Monday after pledging fresh elections and reforms to restore order in the volatile Central Asian state.​

 

[Received_by_Kings]

Kind of sad to see people die because of the personal ambitions of politicians (same as in the current case in Thailand).

 

[flkyflky]

Where is LKY going to flee to? Thaksin also have to flee around no where to hide.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

The handwriting is very nice, but the guy looks extremely nerdy.

The guy could have easily been a sinkee.

 

[postnew]

ya.. he look like the shake leg guy.

 

[flkyflky]

kyrgyzstan shaken by new round of deadly violence
20 april 2010

bishkek: New unrest broke out in kyrgyzstan on monday as two people were killed in ethnic riots, local media said, amid mystery over the whereabouts of the country's ousted president.
Ethnic kyrgyz rioters seized plots of land from russians and turks in mayevka, a village outside the capital bishkek, prompting the country's interim government to send in hundreds of police to quell the unrest.
"the police and internal forces have established order in the village. Forty instigators of the riots have been arrested," the head of the interim government, roza otunbayeva, told reporters.
A source in the kyrgyz interior ministry told afp that around 600 police supported by armoured personnel carriers were patrolling mayevka after the violence that reportedly left two people dead.
Two people were killed and 13 injured in the riots, the 24.kg news website reported, citing medical sources.
Earlier, bishkek emergency services said one person had died in mayevka and six others were being treated for gunshot wounds.
Mayevka is home to a mix of russians, kyrgyz and meskhetian turks, a group that lived in georgia until 1944 when they were deported to central asia by soviet dictator joseph stalin.
"kyrgyz from different regions of kyrgyzstan are setting houses on fire and taking land from turks and russians," viktor, a russian resident of mayevka, told afp by telephone from his neighbour's house where he was hiding.
"this is a real war," said viktor, who asked that his last name not be published for fear of reprisals.

In a chaotic day, the rioters seized land in mayevka before marching on central bishkek, eyewitnesses and local media reports said.
In bishkek they forced the city's acting mayor, isa omurkulov, to sign a document authorising the handover of the land they had seized earlier, the official kabar news agency reported.
The violence was the latest challenge to the interim government which seized power in kyrgyzstan this month after a popular uprising that ousted president kurmanbek bakiyev.
So far the interim government has failed to establish full control over the country, a mountainous former soviet republic which is home to a us air base used to supply operations in nearby afghanistan.
Bakiyev, the country's toppled president, was confirmed on monday to have left kazakhstan, where he was flown last week in an action coordinated by world powers aimed at quelling tensions in kyrgyzstan.
"yes, he left," kazakh foreign ministry spokesman ilyas omarov told afp. But he said it was unclear where the ousted president had gone, and no further details on bakiyev's departure were available.
There has been no confirmation of bakiyev's location since his arrival in the southern kazakh city of taraz on thursday.
Bakiyev is wanted by the interim kyrgyz government in connection with the shootings of demonstrators during the protests in early april that culminated in his overthrow.

Belarussian president alexander lukashenko, who voiced anger over bakiyev's ousting, has offered bakiyev sanctuary in belarus - but officials in minsk have in recent days vehemently denied that he has arrived there.
The death toll in the early april uprising that triggered bakiyev's downfall rose to 85 on monday as another person died in hospital, the kyrgyz health ministry said. - afp/de

rioters travel on top of a car during an unrest in the village of mayevka near bishkek april 19, 2010. Kyrgyzstan's interim rulers faced renewed resistance and lawlessness on monday after pledging fresh elections and reforms to restore order in the volatile central asian state.​

poor car!

Hind suspension going to break !

 

[postnew]

Kyrgyz security forces confront crowd in Bishkek
20 Apr 2010
Source: Reuters
NIZHNYAYA ALARCHA, Kyrgyzstan, April 20 (Reuters) - Kyrgyz security forces confronted a crowd massing on the outskirts of the capital Bishkek on Tuesday where looters have attacked homes belonging to mainly ethnic Russian and Meskhetian Turks.

Some 300 riot police and troops faced off against several hundred people near the villages of Mayevka and Nizhnyaya Alarcha. Five people died and at least 16 were injured in ethnic violence in Mayevka on Monday as interim rulers in the Central Asian state try to restore order after an uprising overthrew President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. (Reporting by Maria Golovnina; Writing by Matt Robinson; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

Local resident show their destroyed and burned down house in the settlement of Mayevka outside Bishkek April 20, 2010. Kyrgyz security forces confronted a crowd massing on the outskirts of the capital Bishkek on Tuesday where looters have attacked homes belonging to mainly ethnic Russian and Meskhetian Turks.​

 

[postnew]

2010-04-20 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Ousted Bakiyev leaves Kazakhstan
[Iran Press TV Latest] Ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has left neighboring Kazakhstan, where he had sought refuge after his government was toppled.

"He's left Kazakhstan," Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Ilyas Omarov told The Associated Press, but did not provide details on his planned destination.

Bakiyev left Kyrgyzstan for Kazakhstan on Thursday, after spending over a week in hiding in southern parts of the country following a deadly revolt which toppled him and left at least 80 people dead.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday offered Bakiyev sanctuary in his country.

Another possible destination is the United Arab Emirates, where Bakiyev is thought to own property, according to AP.

Kyrgyzstan is still tense as the interim government tries to extend its grip on power. Fresh unrest erupted on Monday as hundreds of angry protesters armed with sticks and stones clashed with landowners outside capital Bishkek.

Security forces rushed to the scene to disperse the demonstrators, who seized land on the outskirts of the capital, media reports say. At least one person was killed and 15 others were injured, DPA reported.

In the capital, the protesters forced the acting mayor of Bishkek, Isa Omurkulov, to sign a document authorizing the handover of the land they had seized earlier, the official Kabar news agency reported.

Photo: Isa Omurkulov​

 

[postnew]

An APC moves patrols as riot police (unseen) entered the settlement of Nizhnaya Alaarcha, outside Bishkek, on April 20, 2010. Kyrgyzstan's authorities struggled to impose order today after five people were killed in ethnic riots, amid mystery over the whereabouts of the country's ousted president. Hundreds of police patrolled the village of Mayevka outside the capital Bishkek, a day after it was the site of clashes in which ethnic Kyrgyz rioters sought to seize plots of land from ethnic Russians and Turks.​

 

[postnew]

Kyrgyz police forces arrive in the village of Mayovka outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to keep under control small-scale clashes on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Clashes between local residents and large groups of people trying to seize plots of land took place in Mayovka.​

 

[postnew]

Riot police form a line near people who gathered at the Nizhnaya Alaarcha settlement outside of Bishkek on April 20, 2010. Kyrgyzstan's authorities struggled to impose order today after five people were killed in ethnic riots, amid mystery over the whereabouts of the country's ousted president. Hundreds of police patrolled the village of Mayevka outside the capital Bishkek, a day after it was the site of clashes in which ethnic Kyrgyz rioters sought to seize plots of land from ethnic Russians and Turks.​

 

[postnew]

Outsed Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev gives a press conference in Minsk on April 21, 2010. Kyrgyzstan's ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev insisted that he was still the rightful leader of his country, breaking several days of silence after his flight into exile.​

 

[postnew]

Kyrgyzstan's deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev speaks during a meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, unseen, in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, April 21, 2010. The ousted leader of Kyrgyzstan said Wednesday from exile in Belarus that he is still president of his Central Asian country. Kurmanbek Bakiyev was deposed in an April 7 uprising that left 85 people dead in the Kyrgyz capital. He fled last week to neighboring Kazakhstan and arrived in the Belarusian capital earlier this week.​

 

[postnew]

Kyrgyzstan's deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, speaks to media during a news conference in Minsk, Belarus, Friday, April 23, 2010. The ousted leader of Kyrgyzstan said Friday from exile in Belarus that he does not intend to return to his homeland as president, but insisted a resignation he signed under pressure has not come into force.

Ousted president of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev gestures during his press conference in Minsk on April 23, 2010. Bakiyev, who has taken refuge in Belarus, softened his defiance by admitting he would not be able to return to his country as head of state. Bakiyev, ousted in protests this month, earlier this week insisted he was still the president of the Central Asian state, adding to simmering tensions that have worried the international community.​

 

[postnew]

Kyrgyz policemen distribute bread and unpack dried rations delivered by representatives from a U.S. air base outside the capital, in Bishkek, April 22, 2010. The policemen said they had not been fed for several days following an April 7 uprising. Kyrgyzstan is unlikely to decide whether to allow the United States to retain its air base in the Central Asian state until after an October election, a senior interim government official said on Thursday.

A Kyrgyz policeman holds a bread delivered by representatives from a U.S. air base outside the capital, in Bishkek, April 22, 2010.​

 

[postnew]

Kyrgyz policemen eat bread and unpack dried rations distributed by representatives from a U.S. air base outside the capital, in Bishkek, April 22, 2010.​