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Kyrgyzstan interim government suspends constitutional court

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Kyrgyz interim prime minister Azimbek Beknazarov announced Tuesday that the temporary government has suspended the country's highest court until the country creates a permanent government. Beknazarov said that the Constitutional Court will remain temporarily dissolved because it allegedly supports ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Beknazarov also warned Bakiyev on Tuesday that he no longer has presidential protection from legal proceedings and that he would be arrested and face criminal investigation if he did not step down as president. A Kyrgyz court also issued arrest warrants for Bakiyev's brother and son and the country's former prime minister. In response, Bakiyev said Tuesday that he would admit defeat if the interim government assured the safety of his family. Bakiyev offered to meet with interim leader Roza Otunbayeva and called on the international community to investigate last week's coup. Last week, former Kyrgyz foreign minister Otunbayeva announced that she will lead an interim government in Kyrgyzstan after violent protests apparently ousted Bakiyev and his administration. Otunbayeva, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, said that her temporary government will rule for six months until the country holds democratic elections. Reports vary as to the number of citizens killed during the protests, with Kyrgyz opposition officials reporting more than 80 deaths and more than 1600 injuries. Also last week, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that he will send an envoy to Kyrgyzstan and encouraged calm in the unstable country. Rights groups have also urged leaders to respect human rights.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 13, 2010 (boomark / email).