Moscow, April 09: Ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on Thursday dismissed reports about his resignation, but conceded that he is not in control of the situation in the Central Asian republic.
Bakiyev, who fled the capital last night amid mass rioting by the anti-government protestors, in a statement e-mailed to web based 24.kg agency also accepted that he has also lost control over the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, which have sworn allegiance to the interim government led by ex-Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva.
“I declare that as the President I have not and am not going to relinquish my powers. Presently I am deprived of any possibility to influence the events in country as the President of Kyrgyz Republic,” Bakiyev said in his statement.
He expressed ‘regret’ that the armed forces, of which he is supreme commnader have sided by the opposition.
Bakiyev said he would not resign despite fleeing the capital after a violent revolt in the Central Asian state.
He cautioned the opposition, that in case of further destabilisation of the situation in the country it will have to bear full responsibility.
“I, as the guarantor of the constitution of Kyrgyzstan, declare that in case of further destabilisation, all the responsibility would be on the opposition, which will be punished with the full force of law,” Bakiyev said in his statement.
According to earlier reports, Bakiyev has taken refuge in the south of the country in his home-town Jalal-Abad and could organise resistance to the interim government, virtually recognised by Russia after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called up the interim Prime Minister Roza Otunbayeva.
Some reports from Bishkek suggested that Bakiyev is involved in secret negotiations with the new authorities seeking guaranties for him and family members in case of his voluntary resignation, several Russian FM radio stations reported.
RIA Novosti reported that the interim cabinet of Otunbayeva has announced its decision to re-write a new ‘democratic’ constitution and holding fresh presidential polls in six months.
Prez says ‘foreign hand’ involved in violence
Kyrgyzstan’s ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev who fled the country amid raging political violence today accused the involvement of “foreign hand” in the course of events even as he refused to concede “defeat” and dismissed reports about his resignation.
“I will not name the concrete country, I simply don’t want, but without the foreign forces it was practically impossible to carry out such well coordinated operation,” Bakiyev told Moscow -based “Ekho Moskvy” radio over phone.
Bishkek, who fled after mass riots broke in the nation and anti-government protesters ransacked key government buildings, has taken refuge among his supporters at a village in his home region of Jalal-Abad in the south of the country bordering China.
Earlier, yesterday morning Bakiyev’s Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov had summoned Russian ambassador in Bishkek to convey the government’s discontent over alleged manipulation of opposition by the Russian media.
Later the same day, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin categorically denied Moscow’s involvement in Kyrgyz events saying it was the internal matter of the Central Asian nation.
However, today Putin called up Kyrgyzstan’s new interim premier Roza Otunbayeva and pledged humanitarian assistance as the two countries have “special relations”.
Putin’s call to Otunbayeva was a signal of de facto recognition of the new anti-Bakiyev regime in Bishkek.
In his interview de facto deposed President Bakiyev conceded that practically he is not controlling the situation in the country and has no access to the TV and radio from where he could brief the nation on the events.
“I declare that as the President I have not and am not going to relinquish my powers. Presently I am deprived of any possibility to influence the events in country as the President of Kyrgyz Republic,” Bakiyev said in a statement e-mailed to web based 24.kg agency.
He also accepted that he has also lost control over the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, which have sworn allegiance to the interim government.
He expressed ‘regret’ that the armed forces, of which he is supreme commander have sided by the opposition.
Bakiyev said he would not resign despite fleeing the capital after a violent revolt in the Central Asian state.
He cautioned the opposition, that in case of further destabilisation of the situation in the country it will have to bear full responsibility.
“I, as the guarantor of the constitution of Kyrgyzstan, declare that in case of further destabilisation, all the responsibility would be on the opposition, which will be punished with the full force of law,” Bakiyev said.
Meanwhile, the secretariat of Russia-led CSTO collective security bloc, of which Kyrgyzstan is a member, is analysing the situation in the country, CSTO Secretary-General Nikolai Bordyuzha said, amid the fear of a civil war in the country traditionally divided by rival northern and southern clans.
—-PTI