Ex-Kyrgyz premier sentenced in absentia to 15 years for allotting park land for private homes
BISHKEK. June 10 (Interfax) - Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov has been sentenced in absentia to 15 years for the illegal alienation of park lands in his capacity of the Bishkek mayor.
"The Bishkek Pervomaisky District Court has sentenced Usenov in absentia to 15 years and property impoundment for the illegal alienation of lands of the Ataturk Park in Bishkek," a source in the Kyrgyz Supreme Court press service told Interfax on Monday.
According to the source, Usenov decided to alienate 11.3 hectares of lands of the Ataturk Park without coordination with city deputies for the construction of private homes.
The Ataturk Park in southern Bishkek is one of the most beautiful and biggest parks of the city. It is situated close to the foothills, on the bank of a small river. Intensive construction of private houses, mostly for officials, parliament deputies and businessmen, started in 2007 when Usenov was the mayor, and the park territory was reduced substantially.
Usenov held a variety of high-ranking positions in Kyrgyzstan. He headed the Kyrgyz government until the change of administration in April 2010. Then he left the republic and took residence abroad.