London: Britain would consider a request
to extradite the son of Kyrgyzstan`s ousted president, accused
of instigating deadly riots, even if there is no such treaty
between the countries, officials said on Thursday.
The Home Office refused to say whether Kyrgyzstan was
seeking the return of Maxim Bakiyev, 32, who arrived in
Britain Sunday as inter-ethnic riots raged in his home
country, killing at least 191 people.
A spokesman said there was no extradition treaty with
the former Soviet country but told AFP: "Under certain
circumstances we would consider a request... there are
provisions in place."
A statement from the UK Border Agency, a unit of the
Home Office which deals with immigration, confirmed Bakiyev`s
arrival in Britain.
"On 13 June a 32-year-old man was questioned by UK
Border Agency staff after arriving at Farnborough airport
without the necessary documentation to enter the UK. We are
not able to comment further on this case," it said.
Bakiyev, nicknamed "the Prince" for his penchant
for luxury, is the son of former Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek
Bakiyev, who was toppled in violent street protests in April
and subsequently fled the country.
The interim authorities in Bishkek have accused him
of being an instigator of last week`s violence, while he also
faces criminal charges related to his former position as head
of the agency that controls state assets and loans.
The interim authorities said Tuesday they had
requested his extradition. In April he was charged with
transferring at least USD 35 million of a 300-million-dollar
state loan from Russia to a number of bank accounts.
He is also being investigated by the interim Kyrgyz
government for possible corrupt business practices related to
fuel supply contracts he handled for a US airbase, key for
military operations in Afghanistan.
PTI
