Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev arrived in Bishkek on 22 August and met with Prosecutor-General Azimbek Beknazarov. Tanaev, who faces three criminal cases in Kyrgyzstan, went free after his testimony; prosecutors had initially wanted to arrest him, but after he voluntarily appeared to present testimony they agreed to release him on his own recognizance after he signed a statement that he will not leave the country. Maksim Maksimovich, the lawyer representing Tanaev, told reporters that his client met with Prosecutor-General Beknazarov for two and a half hours in the morning. Tanaev faces a variety of corruption charges but maintains his innocence. Maksimovich explained, \"He did not plead guilty, but said that everything he had done was for the benefit of the state.\" Tanaev fled Kyrgyzstan after street protests toppled President Askar Akaev on 24 March for Russia, where he was born. (ITAR-TASS)