12 Dec 2019 12:04

Former Kyrgyz PM Isakov already serving 15 years in prison refuses to participate in other proceedings

BISHKEK. Dec 12 (Interfax) - Former Kyrgyz prime minister Sapar Isakov, who was convicted of corruption during the modernization of the Bishkek Heat and Power Plant and is serving 15 years in prison, has refused to participate in further proceedings, Isakov's lawyer Zamir Zhooshev told Interfax on Thursday.

"Isakov has refused to be a part of fake justice. The latest proceedings, related to corruption during the renovation of the History Museum, have been delayed due to ailment on the part of the former prime minister. That's what the court said. In fact, Sapar Isakov has refused to be a part of this parody of justice," Zhooshev said.

Another lawyer, Nurbek Toktakunov, posted a statement by Isakov on social media. Isakov made the statement in order to explain his reasons for refusing to participate in the proceedings.

"I plead my constitutional rights and refuse to participate in fake proceedings, the fake administering of justice. I sincerely believed in the fairness and impartiality of the court, took active part in the court inquiry into the modernization of the heat and power plant, used every opportunity envisaged by the Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Code, gave testimony, answered questions, provided evidence, questioned witnesses, and obeyed the court. I demanded that prosecutors present tangible evidence. What was the result? The court had no concrete evidence, so it used my active participation in the trial to validate a kangaroo court and to read out an absurd, baseless sentence. This is not justice; [...] it's a fake. I will not be a part of my own rigged trial any longer," Isakov said.

"I will not be participating in my rigged trial, but this does not mean that I have given up. It's just that I am sure that the truth will out and, sooner or later, life will reveal the criminal activity and inactivity of the National Security Committee, the prosecution service, the courts, and Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov," he said.

The former Kyrgyz prime minister is a defendant in a criminal case concerning abuse in the renovation of the History Museum, which caused damages of about $1.5 million.

On December 9, the Bishkek Sverdlovsk District Court sentenced former Kyrgyz prime minister Sapar Isakov to 15 years in prison on charges of corruption in the modernization of the Bishkek Heat and Power Plant.

The corruption case in the modernization of the Bishkek Heat and Power Plant was opened in January 2018 with regard to a Chinese loan of $386 million. Charges were brought against two former prime ministers, the former energy minister, and other former high-ranking officials. They were accused of inflicting $111-million worth of damages on Kyrgyzstan by concluding the contract with a Chinese company.