A Kyrgyz court has sentenced former President Almazbek Atambayev to 11 years and two months in prison for the illegal release of notorious crime boss Aziz Batukayev in 2013, Radio Liberty reported on June 23.
Prosecutors had reportedly asked the Birinchi Mai District Court for a 15-year prison term for the former leader, who was sentenced today.
The 63-year-old Atambayev, who has denied any wrongdoing, was arrested in early August last year after he surrendered to police following a deadly two-day standoff between security forces and his supporters.
Batukayev suddenly was released from prison and immediately left Kyrgyzstan for Russia in 2013.
He had been convicted of several infamous crimes — including the murders of a Kyrgyz lawmaker and an Interior Ministry official.
Meanwhile, 24.kg news agency said on May 21 that extradition of the crime boss Aziz Batukayev from Chechnya to Kyrgyzstan will be considered in 2021.
Kyrgyzstan’s Prosecutor-General Otkurbek Dzhamshitov reportedly said this at a meeting of the Parliament.
Aziz Batukayev was sentenced to four years in prison in Chechnya. He is currently serving his term.
“After his prison term ends in 2021, it will be possible to raise the issue,” Otkurbek Dzhamshitov said.
Investigation into illegal release of the crime boss was resumed in January 2019. It was sent to court in October.
