Ambassador in Bishkek: Photo with Bakiyev in Minsk Faked
Belarusian ambassador found courage to talk to protesters.
Belarusian Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Viktar Dzienisienka has promised to inform the Kyrgyz foreign ministry every three days about progress in the Bakiyev case.
On Tuesday morning, about a hundred people staged a protest near the Belarusian embassy in Bishkek, demanding the extradition of former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his family members, most notably, his brother Janysh (Janybek) Bakiyev, who is on an international wanted list.
After the arrival of Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Askar Beshimov at the scene, Ambassador Dzienisienka agreed to meet with him and the leaders of civil society groups called Aikol Ala-Too and Meken Sheyitteri which had organized the protest.
Mr. Dzienisienka said that the Belarusian diplomatic mission was in close cooperation with the Kyrgyz foreign ministry, said Arstanbek Sagyndykov, co-chairman of Meken Sheyitteri, according to news agency 24.kg.
“It was promised that from now on, diplomats would meet with Askar Beshimov every three days and report progress in the Bakiyev extradition case through him,”Mr. Sagyndykov said.
“We decided to give them time. After all, they cannot bring the Bakiyevs over in one day. The demonstrators are now leaving.”
Protests against Belarus' refusal to extradite members of the Bakiyev family began near the Belarusian embassy last week. While meeting with protesters four days ago, Mr. Dzienisienka denied that Janybek Bakiyev was staying in Belarus and insisted that photographs of him in Minsk had been made with the help of Photoshop, Mr. Sagyndykov said.
On Tuesday, demonstrators waited for three hours for a representative of the embassy to come out and meet with them and then lost their patience and began throwing stones at the building, breaking its windows, he said.