BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Members of the ousted regime in Kyrgyzstan are protected by refugee status or political asylum in European countries, an official in Bishkek said.
Keneshbek Dushebayev, head of a Kyrgyz national security committee, said the country's former president and members of his family won't be handed over to state authorities.
"The son of (the) former president, Maxim Bakiyev, has received refugee status in Britain," he was quoted by Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti as saying. "(Former President) Kurmanbek Bakiyev received political asylum in Belarus."
An April 2010 coup in Kyrgyzstan forced Bakiyev to flee his stronghold in the south of the country. At least 400 people were killed during June 2010 violence between Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks in the southern regions of Osh and Jalal Abad in the aftermath of the coup.
Bishkek had said it was important for former regime officials to return as the country looks to recover from ethnic violence.
Human rights groups said reconciliation between the two main ethnic groups faces serious obstacles.
The country is gearing up for elections this month. President Roza Otunbayeva is ineligible to seek the presidency after her interim tenure expires Dec. 31.
