BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan’s former Prime Minister Sapar Isakov says he has been questioned by investigators over an incident that left parts of the country’s capital city without heating last winter, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported.
Isakov, who was fired by President Sooronbai Jeenbekov earlier this month, told journalists on April 26 that he was questioned as a witness in the case for about an hour at the Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security headquarters in Bishkek.
He said the case is related to an accident that occurred at the city’s heating center earlier this year.
Isakov did not elaborate, but said that “everything is okay”.
The development comes days after Isakov and his Government were sacked on April 19, hours after lawmakers passed a no-confidence motion initiated by opposition lawmakers following criticism of the Government’s annual report by opposition parties.
In an unexpected move, the ruling coalition led by former President Almazbek Atambayev’s Social Democratic party abruptly withdrew its backing for Isakov, prompting his cabinet’s fall.
Isakov’s successor, Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev, and his Government were sworn in on April 25.
Earlier in April, Jeenbekov sacked several Atambayev allies, including Prosecutor-General Indira Joldubaeva and National Security chief Abdil Segizbaev.
Atambayev kept a low profile for several months after leaving office five months ago, but has recently begun publicly criticizing his former protege and anointed successor.
Also on April 26, Prime Minister Abylgaziev signed two orders dismissing the head of the State Service for Combating Economic Crimes Bolot Suyumbaev and his deputy Isabek Sultanaliev, 24.kg news agency reported.
Suyumbaev, appointed on April 16, has been in office for only 10 days.
A close associate of ex-President Almazbek Atambayev, Suyumbaev was dismissed from the post of deputy head of the State Committee for National Security by President Jeenbekov earlier this month, but was appointed the head of the State Service for Combating Economic Crimes by then Prime Minister Isakov.
