Belarus will not extradite ex-President Bakiyev's brother to Kyrgyzstan
MINSK. Sept 5 (Interfax) - The Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office has declined the request made by Kyrgyz prosecutors to extradite Zhanybek Bakiyev, the brother of Kyrgyzstan's ex-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
"Given the events that have occurred in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and the nature of the charges brought against Zhanybek Bakiyev, Belarus believes the request for his extradition is connected to his persecution for his political convictions, and therefore the request made by the Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office for Zhanybek Bakiyev's extradition has been declined," the Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office told Interfax on Wednesday.
The Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office considered the Kyrgyz prosecutors' request for the extradition of Zhanybek Bakiyev back in June, the agency said.
"In accordance with Article 89 of the Convention On Legal Aid and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases of October 7, 2002, extradition is not carried out if there are strong grounds to believe that an extradition request is connected to the person's persecution based on race, gender, religious affiliation, ethic origin, or political convictions," the Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office said.
The Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office said it communicated its position to the Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office back in June 2012.
In the meantime, the Belarusian authorities said Kyrgyzstan should adopt a more sensible position on the situation with the Bakiyev family, saying that otherwise it will be difficult for Bishkek to prove its constructive and partner-like ambitions on its path to the Customs Union.
"The less common sense Kyrgyzstan demonstrates in this situation, the more difficult it will be to prove that it can be a constructive partner as a full-fledged member of the Customs Union," a source in the Belarusian government told Interfax on Wednesday.
"Kyrgyzstan has a clear idea on its position on the issue of the Bakiyevs," the source said, adding that "this situation is not the worst way out for the current Kyrgyz authorities." "Belarus is much more inconvenienced," a source in Minsk said.