Former Kyrgyz president Bakiyev sentenced in absentia to 24 years

"Kurmanbek Bakiyev was found guilty of abuse of office. Under a penal code article, the cumulative sentence for him is 24 years in a maximum security penitentiary with the confiscation of property. His brother Zhanybek Bakiyev, who had led the country's' State Guards Service, was found guilty on several counts and sentenced to life imprisonment with the confiscation of property," the Supreme Court said.

Bakiyev was ousted in the April 7, 2010 revolution. On that day, 97 people were killed and another 500 were injured in the confrontation between government supporters and the Opposition. The onslaught of several thousand protesters made Bakiyev flee the Bishkek and ultimately, the country. At the present time, Bakiyev and his brother Zhanybek are in Belarus, which refuses to extradite them to the new Kyrgyz authorities.

Published by Itar-Tass.