Azimbek Beknazarov Remanded in Custody Until November 2
Bishkek Politician Azimbek Beknazarov Placed in Pretrial Detention
On September 12, 2024, politician Azimbek Beknazarov was placed in pretrial detention center No. 1 until November 2, as reported by his son Ruslan Beknazarov. The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) has opened a criminal case against the former member of the interim government for theft and embezzlement of funds seized from bank safe deposit boxes and the Government House during the events in April 2010.
Beknazarov, who previously held the position of Prosecutor General in the interim government, was placed in the SCNS temporary detention facility on suspicion of committing a crime of “Money laundering on a large scale” under the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.
This is not the first legal issue Beknazarov has faced. He was previously a defendant in the Kempir-Abad case along with more than 20 other activists, where prosecutors sought significant prison sentences. However, all defendants were acquitted by the district court on June 14 due to a lack of evidence.
The Committee for protection of Kempir-Abad reservoir, which includes activists, politicians, and MPs, was created on October 22, 2022. Following its establishment, mass arrests began on October 23, leading to the detention of 27 individuals on charges of preparing for riots.
Beknazarov’s detention is just the latest development in a series of legal battles faced by individuals involved in Kyrgyzstan’s political landscape. Authorities continue to crack down on suspected wrongdoings, creating a tense atmosphere in the country.
