Kyrgyzstan’s 24.kg news agency reported on June 12 that a court in Bishkek’s Pervomaisky district has sentenced the fugitive president of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev to 30 years in prison. 

The fugitive president and other defendants in the criminal case were charged with corruption.  

Bakiyev’s son, Maksim Bakiyev, was sentenced to life imprisonment to be served in a special regime colony with confiscation of property.

Former deputy head of the Central Agency for Development, Investments and Innovations Aleksey Eliseyev was sentenced by the court to 30 years in prison with a fine of 15,000 soms and confiscation of property.

Ex-Advisor to the Executive Director of the World Bank Sadriddin Jeenibekov was sentenced to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Former First Deputy Minister of Finance Emirlan Toromyrzaev was sentenced to 12 years in prison.  According to the verdict of the court, he must serve his sentence in a prison colony with general regime. His property was confiscated, he was also deprived of the right to hold public office for a period of three years.

The ex-head of the Legal Department of the Government Office, Elena Belkovskaya, was sentenced to nine years in prison with confiscation of property.

Former Minister of Natural Resources Kapar Kurmanaliyev was sentenced to 13 years in prison with confiscation of property.

According to 24.kg, it is a criminal case on the fact of illegal signing of an agreement between Kumtor Gold Company, Centerra Gold and Kyrgyzaltyn OJSC.  The case was initiated in 2013.

Recall, incumbent Kyrgyz President Sady Japarov told Kyrgyzstan’s Kabar news agency on March 30 that the Kyrgyz authorities do not plan to return former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to the country.

"The authorities do not plan to return Kurmanbek Bakiyev to Kyrgyzstan.  If he shows up, of course, he will be arrested," Japarov said.

"Bakiyev was sentenced to 30 years in prison.  All of us must learn to abide by the law. I don't have any powers to overturn court rulings.  If Bakiyev appeals for pardon, I only have the right to grant or refuse it.  I must make such a decision taking into account the opinions of the citizens who were hurt in 2010.  I don't think that the court could acquit [the ex-president's brother and son] Zhanysh and Maxim Bakiev. Because they were given life sentences," Japarov said.

Bakiyev held the post of Kyrgyz president from 2005 to 2010.  He came to power as a result of the "Tulip Revolution" against then-President Askar Akayev, and was reelected the country's president in 2009, but was overthrown in April 2010 and left Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyz courts convicted Bakiyev in absentia and gave him a life sentence for his role in ordering troops to fire on protesters in Bishkek on April 7, 2010.  His term was then reduced to 30 years.

Bakiyev’s time in office was characterized by political deadlock and spats with opposition parties.  His opponents said he became increasingly authoritarian and accused him of corruption.

Public discontent mounted, culminating in violent protests on April 7, 2010 in which more than 80 people died and hundreds were injured.  After angry crowds stormed government buildings, the president sought asylum in Belarus, where he reportedly remains.