"Former President Bakiyev will be prosecuted." But he flees to Kazakhstan
Bishkek (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Roza Otunbayeva, leader of the interim government yesterday rejected any concession to President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and said he "exceeded the limits of his immunity by allowing blood to flow" during last week's protests and clashes with the police that have caused 84 deaths.
Bakiyev’s position worsened after the U.S. and Russia expressed support for the interim government, which controls the north of the country and clearly stated its intention to maintain the previous international agreements. This means, among other things, maintaining the U.S. air base in Manas, the only one in Central Asia and vital to the military intervention in Afghanistan, but also the strategic alliance with Russia, Kazakhstan and China.
Otunbayeva expressed a tough position after meeting with U.S. special envoy Robert Blake, who said he was "optimistic" about the steps taken by the new government and announced more U.S. economic aid. In recent days, Alexei Kudrin, Russian Minister for Finance, also announced humanitarian aid with low-interest loans for tens of millions of Euros.
After rejecting calls for his resignation for days, Bakiyev offered to resign in exchange for immunity for himself, his family and other supporters to go abroad.
Today Bakiyev was contested by an angry mob even in his own stronghold of Osh, the country's second largest city, which blocked the former president from holding a rally in the square in front of the National Drama Theater in the city. The deposed president presented himself surrounded by armed guards and hundreds of supporters, but the opposing group began throwing stones, while police did not intervene. His bodyguards fired in the air, causing panic, particularly in light of the dead last week. Bakiyev immediately left the area, perhaps to take refuge in the native village of Tevit in Jalalabad, 120 kilometers from Osh.
Edil Baisalov, head of the provisional government, said that Bakiyev “is now only president of his native village, and to be more precise only the 3 blocks where his relatives live."
His supporters are still numerous in the south and have incited hiom not to give up. But breaking news saying that Bakiyev has decided to flee and take refuge in neighboring Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, the interim government is being called upon to demonstrate its ability to remain calm and to address severe the poverty in the country, which led to the uprising, including allegations of corruption against relatives and close associates of the president.
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