Lukashenko defends sheltering ex-Kyrgyz president Bakiyev amid diplomatic tensions
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has confirmed that former Kyrgyz leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev is living in Belarus under his protection. The remarks came as Lukashenko criticised Kyrgyz authorities for blocking Bakiyev’s request to visit his father’s grave in Kyrgyzstan.
Lukashenko also revealed ongoing discussions with Kyrgyzstan’s current president, Sadyr Japarov, to resolve the issue diplomatically.
Bakiyev served as Kyrgyzstan’s president from 2005 until his removal in April 2010. After being ousted, he fled the country and eventually settled in Belarus, where he has remained since.
In August 2022, Belarus’s Supreme Court rejected Kyrgyzstan’s extradition request for Bakiyev. Lukashenko has repeatedly stated that Bakiyev will not be handed over, adding that he occasionally meets with him.
Earlier this year, Kyrgyz President Japarov organised a meeting with all former leaders in an effort to address past conflicts. Despite this reconciliation attempt, Bakiyev has still been denied permission to return to Kyrgyzstan—even for a brief visit to his father’s grave.
Lukashenko has now urged Kyrgyz authorities to allow the trip, arguing that Bakiyev poses no threat and should be granted this personal request. The Belarusian leader described Bakiyev’s current life in Belarus as comfortable and secure.
The dispute over Bakiyev’s potential visit remains unresolved. Lukashenko continues to push for a solution through talks with Japarov. For now, Bakiyev stays in Belarus, unable to return to Kyrgyzstan despite his wish to pay respects at his father’s burial site.
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