4 Jun 2013 17:46

Bakiyev is not going back either to politics or to Kyrgyzstan

MINSK. June 4 (Interfax) - Former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev says his decision to quit politics is final and he is not going to return to his home country. He also believes that attempts to obtain Belarusian authorities' consent for his extradition will be taken at no avail.

"My comeback is out of the question after the armed toppling of the legitimate authorities conducted by the incumbent heads of the country. I am not going to regain office either in Kyrgyzstan or anywhere else. It is high time this is understood. I have quit politics, my decision is final, and I make this official declaration to you," Bakiyev said in an interview with Interfax.

"I am being blamed for everything that is happening in Kyrgyzstan, which is not even funny, simply indecent," the former president said. "People, who take power with foreign backing, like it happened in 2010, constantly keep suspecting someone of preparing a revolt. The authorities condemn those who take to the streets and add a factor of destabilization in the present-day life of Kyrgyzstan. But they should recall the way they took the office in 2010," Bakiyev said.

"As to my extradition, the administration of the Republic of Belarus has been explicit: Mr. Bakiyev has been a Belarusian citizen since 2010 and cannot be extradited by law," the ex-president said. "Especially as the accusations are imaginary and politically motivated."

Bakiyev linked the sporadic extradition demands with the wish of the Kyrgyz authorities "to distract people from real problems."

"An inefficient team beats up and down. How can they fill the political vacuum? How can they explain their inability to govern the country? It is much easier to blame Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Maxim Bakiyev for everything once again and demand their return to the country," the ex-president said.

"Time is the best judge. Time has proven that neither I nor my son is a criminal no matter what the incumbent leaders may say," Bakiyev said. "Time will pass and those who are in office now will face the court and the people. They will answer for what they did in 2010 and for what Kyrgyzstan was reduced to."

The ex-president also commented on media opinions that "the Bakiyev problem" may be solved in a vendetta. "Concerning my security and possible vendetta, I must say that the blood of everyone who died in April 2010 was the responsibility of those who brought people to the House of Government and armed them. It is the responsibility of the incumbent leaders: Atambayev, Otunbayeva, Tekebayev, Beknazarov and others," Bakiyev said.

"No matter how partisan the courts and investigators may be in contemporary Kyrgyzstan, we can see the April 2010 case falling apart," he said. "At the same time, I do not see the authorities being eager to investigate the events of June 2010 when several hundreds died and thousands were hurt and lost their homes."

"If an independent and impartial inquiry into these events is held, it is a big question who will be put into the prisoners' dock. No one has abolished the Hague Tribunal, and such cases do not have a prescription period. I am ready to take part in an independent court investigation and trial. But I suspect that things will go hard for incumbent leaders in this case," the ex-Kyrgyz president said.