Two former mayor of the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek have been convicted on corruption charges.
A court in Bishkek’s Lenin district has sentenced former mayor of Bishkek Albek Ibraimov to 15 years in prison and former mayor of Bishkek Kubanychbek Kulmatov to a fine of 5 million som (equivalent to 71,400 U.S. dollars), according to Fergana news agency.
Kubanychbek Kulmatov ran the capital city in 2014-16 and Albek Ibraimov in 2016-18. The two were reportedly charged along with 12 others for alleged corruption while in office.
Both former officials served as mayors of Bishkek during the tenure of former President Almazbek Atambayev.
Ibraimov and Kulmatov are not the first allies of former President Atambayev convicted this month.
On December 6, two former Kyrgyz prime ministers, Sapar Isakov and Jantoro Satybaldiev, were sentenced to 15 and 7 1/2 years in prison in another high-profile corruption case.
Some experts consider that that case was launched amid tensions between Atambayev and incumbent President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
Recall, Almazbek Atambayev was arrested on August 8 after he surrendered to police following two days of violent resistance by supporters. He had refused to show up at police headquarters for questioning in an unrelated case.
