Ousted president quits Kyrgyzstan, flees to Kazakhstan

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Ousted Kyrgyz leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev (L) leaves a news conference in Minsk April 23, 2010. Bakiyev said on Friday that Russian anger at his decision to extend the lease on a U.S. air base was a factor in his overthrow on April 7.​

 

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Interim Kyrgyz leader Roza Otunbayeva (R) talks during a meeting with businessmen in Bishkek, April 23, 2010. Otunbayeva said on Friday her government would ensure foreign companies were able to continue working in the ex-Soviet state after a revolt that ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.​

 

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Former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Felix Kulov attends a news conference in Moscow, Friday, April 23, 2010. Felix Kulov, a fierce critic of Kyrgyzstan's ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, said that the Kyrgyz people had already rejected Bakiyev. Kulov, who endorsed Bakiyev for presidency in 2005, but fell out with him after criticizing his policies, said that Bakiyev's only positive role would be to convince his brothers to give themselves up to the provisional government.​