BISHKEK – Ousted President Askar Akayev has maintained contacts with
Kyrgyzstan's new leadership.
Kyrgyzstan's acting prosecutor-general Azimbek Beknazarov said Akayev
held talks with members of one of the two parliaments and with acting Prime
Minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Beknazarov said the talks focused on Akayev's
political future.
Meanwhile, the new leadership has recognized Kyrgyzstan's new
parliament as legitimate.
Acting Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev decided to drop his demand to
call for new parliamentary elections. Instead, Bakiyev said those elected in
two rounds of elections in February and March would be recognized.
Beknazarov said Akayev was "trying to influence the situation" from
neighboring Kazakhstan. The prosecutor-general said parliament and Bakiyev
were trying to persuade Akayev to formally resign.
Akayev was believed to be in Russia where he was offered asylum. His
exact whereabouts were not disclosed.
But Bakiyev said Akayev was in neighboring Kazakhstan. The prime
minister was expected to be a candidate in presidential elections set for
June 26.
"President Akayev has kept silent until now," Bakiyev said. "I believe
the first president should address his people and announce his decision."
For his part, Akayev has issued several statements from Russia but has
not been seen in public. In his latest statement, Akayev accused the new
leadership in Bishkek of ruining the economy. The exiled president did not
pledge to return home.
"They have not only ruined our nation's reputation for the entire world
but have also caused an irreparable wrong for the national economy," Akayev
said in an e-mail message to the Kyrgyz news agency Kabar.
Earlier, the new parliament named Bakiyev prime minister. In contrast,
the existing parliament, which has refused to step down, appointed Bakiyev
acting prime minister.
"In accordance with the constitution, the [previous] two-chamber
parliament should finish its work," Bakiyev said. "The old parliament needs
to think about its voters' interests and not about its own."
So far, Ishenbai Kadyrbekov, speaker of the old parliament's lower
house, announced the suspenson of its activities. But the upper chamber
refused to follow suit.
"I can be reproached for saying earlier that the polls were not
legitimate," Bakiyev. 'I said so. But in this parliament we have questions
to only 15 to 20 constituencies, no one is saying that all deputies have to
go."
