| Maxim Bakiyev Максим Бакиев |
|
|---|---|
| Director of the Central Agency for Development, Investment and Innovation of the Kyrgyz Republic | |
| In office October 29, 2009 – April 7, 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Post Established |
| Succeeded by | Post Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 27, 1977 Samara, Russian SFSR, USSR |
| Nationality | Kyrgyz |
| Spouse(s) | Kenenbaeva Aizhan |
| Profession | Politician |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Maksim Kurmanbekovich Bakiyev (Russian: Максим Курманбекович Бакиев; born 27 October 1977, Samara, RSFSR), is a Kyrgyz businessman, and the younger son of former president of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, from his marriage to Russian-born Tatyana Petrova. He has applied for asylum in the UK, while the interim Kyrgyz government is requesting him extradited.
Maksim Bakiyev has a legal background, having graduated from the joint Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University. He received additional education on legal issues in Britain and the US. As a student, Maksim worked in a consultation firm, specializing in investment into emerging markets in Central Asia and the Middle East. Maksim was widely believed to be the richest man in Kyrgyzstan.[1]
Maksim was appointed the head of Central Agency for Development in October 2009. Since the 2010 overthrow he has been charged with embezzlement and abuse of power by the interim government. It is suspected that he transferred about $35 million of a $300 million loan from Russia into his private bank accounts.[2] Prosecutors also allege that his companies owed almost $80 million in taxes on aviation fuel.[3]
When the 2010 uprising took place, Bakiyev was headed to the US for a series of meetings in Washington.[4] However, he never showed up, and it is believed he spent his time in Latvia. In May Interpol posted Maxim Bakiyev as wanted on its website.
On June 13, 2010, Maksim was arrested in the UK when he landed at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire in a privately hired jet.[5] He is seeking asylum there, but the interim Kyrgyz government is demanding his extradition. A senior Kyrgyz official warned that the interim government would consider shutting down the Manas US airbase if Britain refuses to hand him over.[6] However, this was later denounced by president of Kyrgyzstan, Otunbaeva.
On June 18, 2010, it was reported that Bakiyev was granted temporary asylum in the UK, but this was later refuted by the UK Border Agency.[7] He does however have permission to stay pending consideration of request for asylum.
In May 2010, an audio recording[8] was posted anonymously on YouTube with a caption identifying the voices as those of Maxim and his uncle Janish Bakiyev. The men were discussing plans to arm groups to spread chaos across the south of Kyrgyzstan, sometime in June. Both men have denied the authenticity of the tape and Bakiyev has repeatedly said he has no involvement in the violence.[9]
Kyrgyz deputy Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev, claims that the 2010 inter-ethnic riots in south Kyrgyzstan were paid for with $10 million from Bakiyev's pocket.[10]