Estimated brother of former Kyrgyzstan president apprehended in relation to Kumtor case investigation
Headline: Two Kyrgyz Parliament Deputies Arrested in Kumtor Gold Mine Corruption Case
A corruption scandal involving the Kumtor gold mine continues to shake up Kyrgyzstan's political and legal sphere. Latest updates include the arrest of two parliament deputies, including the brother of the country's former president.
Asylbek Jeenbekov and Torobai Zulpukarov, both parliament deputies, have been caught up in a criminal case revolving around corruption in the development of the Kumtor mine. The State Committee of National Security (GKNB) of Kyrgyzstan confirmed their arrest and suspicion of committing a crime.
The Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek granted the investigation's request to detain Jeenbekov and Zulpukarov for two months. Asylbek Jeenbekov is the brother of Kyrgyzstan's former president Sooronbai Jeenbekov, who served as the parliament speaker from 2011 to 2016.
Interestingly, this arrest follows the detention of former prime minister Omurbek Babanov, along with ex-deputies Iskhak Pirmatov and Talant Uzakbaev, all suspected of corruption related to the Kumtor project. Babanov served as prime minister from 2011 to 2012.
The investigation doesn't stop there. Former prime minister Muhammadkali Abylgaziev is also under investigation for alleged corruption related to the Kumtor project while in office. He was arrested on January 26, 2023.
An inter-agency investigative group, consisting of GKNB investigators, the general prosecutor's office, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, is hard at work, continuing the investigation into the corruption case involving the Kumtor gold mine development project.
This ongoing saga serves as a focal point in Kyrgyzstan's political and legal landscape, involving former leaders and ongoing disputes. The case underscores the nation's ongoing struggle with governance, foreign investment disputes, and judicial reforms.
Note: A timeline of key events, corruption allegations, legal proceedings, ongoing investigations, and key players have been omitted due to space constraints. For a more comprehensive understanding, refer to the enrichment data.
- The arrest of parliament deputies Asylbek Jeenbekov and Torobai Zulpukarov is associated with illicit activities in the mining sector at the Kumtor gold mine.
- Politicians like former president Sooronbai Jeenbekov's brother, Asylbek Jeenbekov, and former prime minister Omurbek Babanov have been caught up in the corruption case surrounding the Kumtor mining project.
- The GKNB (State Committee of National Security) is part of an inter-agency investigative group focused on uncovering corruption in the development of the Kumtor gold mine.
- The corruption case related to the Kumtor gold mine has become a significant issue in Kyrgyzstan's general news, crime-and-justice sector, and political landscape, implicating numerous high-profile figures.
