Belarus rejects bid to extradite former Kyrgyz leader

The Belorussian state prosecutor had blocked the extradition of former Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, RIA Novosti news agency reported Wednesday.

"We have not found any judicial reasons to satisfy the extradition request," Prosecutor General Grigory Vasilevich said.

Bakiyev has been in Belarus under its president's personal protection since April this year. He fled Kyrgyzstan after a popular uprising there ended his rule.

The interim Kyrgyz authorities ordered the arrest of Bakiyev and his family members. His son, Maxim, initially fled to Lithuania, and later moved to London where he asked for political asylum.

Next weekend, a referendum is to be held in Kyrgyzstan that aims to approve a new constitution and replace Kyrgyzstan's presidential-type republic with a parliamentary system.

Source: Xinhua