Kazakhstan in Talks with Foreign Countries on Capture of Former PremierKazakhstan is in negotiations with American and European countries, particularly the United States and Britain, on the capture of former Kazakh prime minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin and his extradition to Kazakhstan to face trial on criminal charges.Competent Kazakh authorities have opened a criminal case against the former prime minister, who resigned in 1997 and is now opposition leader of Kazakhstan. The Interfax news agency quoted Kazakh Procurator General Yuri Khitri as saying on Thursday that Kazhegeldin is charged with taking bribes, illegal amassing of property, abuse of power, illegal possession and transfer of weapons and tax evasion. He is also under investigation for dereliction of duty. An international warrant has been issued for his capture for criminal investigations. Kahegeldin was prime minister of Kazakhstan from 1994 to 1997 and is now leader of the oppposition Republican People's Party. He has lived abroad for two years. In the autumn of last year, Kazhegeldin was held in Moscow on an extradition request by Kazakh authorities, but returned to his homeland voluntarily to face questioning. In July, Kazhegeldinn was arrested at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport after getting off a plane from London. He was released shortly afterwards as there is no extradition treaty between Italy and Kazakhstan. |
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