As the Kyrgyz president dismissed the acting Prosecutor General, the latter decided to raise allegations of corruption against the country’s leadership, which in turn led to broad public debate. Many consider his dismissal as part of a “removal of political undesirables” in light of a serious political struggle related to the upcoming presidential elections. However, political analysts claim that it is unclear who will benefit the most from the dismissal.

On March 31, Kyrgyzstan’s President Roza Otunbaeva sacked the acting Prosecutor General Kubatbek Baibolov for “ethical reasons,” the presidential press service stated. Allegedly, Nurjamal Baibolova, now the former Prosecutor General’s wife, profited from irregular real estate deals with the scandal-afflicted cell phone operator Megacom Company. The scandal around the mobile company has been a recent source of political turbulence involving high officials and leading to confrontation within the country’s leadership. On the same day, Otunbaeva appointed Aida Salyanova, her Permanent Representative to Parliament, as the new acting Prosecutor General.  

The presidential decree came as the Kyrgyz National Security Service (KNSS), as a result of an investigation initiated by Otunbaeva, revealed that Baibolov’s wife was involved in fraudulent operations with the company’s assets. Nurjamal Baibolova had reportedly sold real estate belonging to the Megacom Company worth US$ 400,000. The Kyrgyz government holds 49 percent of the mobile operator, while the owner of the rest has not yet been identified. Kyrgyz authorities have frozen the operator’s assets while the company is under investigation

Baibolov, in turn, claims he is a victim of the political struggle ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. “My dismissal is politically motivated and I was removed because of my independent stance in the run-up to the elections,” he stated. Baibolov’s resignation caused public debate, especially after he voiced serious accusations of corruption against President Otunbaeva and her associates. Speaking at the parliament, he denied all charges, claiming that the alleged fraudulent deal was just an ordinary purchase contract. Moreover, he assured that he and his wife stand ready to prove their innocence in court.

He also accused the President of abuse of office by “assisting” her sister to win a previously lost property dispute case in court, thus promoting her personal interests over public interest. Similar accusations were voiced against the first vice Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov, whom Baibolov charged with the illegal seizure of large businesses in the country. Babanov was also accused of avoiding the equivalent of almost US$15 million in taxes several years ago.

Baibolov severely criticized Keneshbek Duyshebaev, the head of the KNSS, for allegedly conducting illegal mass wiretapping, including of MPs and high officials. “Under the leadership of Roza Otunbaeva, the security committee turned into a monstrous organization”, he said.

Moreover, Baibolov confessed that one of the main reasons why he was removed was his initiative to investigate the fate of US$ 21 million disposed from five local banks affiliated with Bakiev’s family. According to him, the funds were misused, since they were partially directed to financing the campaigning activities of one of the political parties during the last parliamentary elections. He also referred to US$ 2 million illegally removed from the Kyrgyz-Russian jointly owned “Dastan” munitions factory, and reportedly used to support the election campaign of the Social Democratic Party. In conclusion, Baibolov called upon parliamentarians to form a parliamentary commission to investigate his statements and promised to hand over all the evidence he has to the commission. A group of MPs, led by Akylbek Japarov from the opposition “Ar Namys” faction, has already initiated the creation of such a commission.

Baibolov, a former KGB officer, was elected to parliament three times in 1995, 2000 and 2005. During Kurmanbek Bakiev’s rule, he was known as an ardent critic of the regime. In 2009, he left for the U.S., allegedly after continuous persecution by the authorities. Following the April 2010 events, he returned to Kyrgyzstan and was appointed deputy head of the KNSS, serving as the commandant of the Jalalabad region during last June’s interethnic violence in the country’s south. Prior becoming the acting Prosecutor General in September, he served briefly as Interior Minister. He is affiliated with the “Ata Meken” parliamentary minority party.

Most political experts contend that Baibolov’s dismissal is related to the presidential elections scheduled in October this year. According to Kubanychbek Omuraliev, a local political expert, the official reason for the dismissal has no legal ground since there is as yet no court decision proving his guilt in the case with mobile operator. Omuraliev believes the dismissal was a mistake, since the resignation of such an influential political figure might weaken the positions of those in power and benefit opposition forces planning to contest the upcoming presidential elections.