BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) – Kyrgyzstan’s former prime minister on Wednesday accused President Kurmanbek Bakiyev of ousting him and announced he would join the opposition to fight the government.
Felix Kulov also accused the president of betrayal – an apparent reference to a deal struck before the July 2005 presidential election in which Kulov dropped his own presidential bid in exchange for the prime minister’s position.
Kulov, widely seen as Bakiyev’s strongest potential opponent, resigned in December amid disagreements over the extent of presidential powers, and Parliament then blocked his efforts to resume his position. On Jan. 29, Parliament approved Bakiyev ally Azim Isabekov as the new prime minister.
Kulov accused Bakiyev of creating “a vicious system” that was redistributing property and helped Bakiyev’s allies take over most television channels. He also vowed to unite and lead opposition forces that want “fundamental, positive changes.”
Bakiyev “was waiting for a moment to get rid of me,” Kulov said at a news conference attended by more than 200 former officials and opposition figures.
Bakiyev spokesman Nurlan Shakiyev said Kulov’s ouster was caused by his disagreements with parliament: “The president could not dissolve legislature to suit the interests of one person.”
Opposition leaders welcomed the move and urged Kulov to prove his intentions by revealing cases of high-level corruption.
The former Soviet republic has been plagued by political instability since the March 2005 ouster of longtime leader Askar Akayev.
Kulov, a former security chief, was jailed by Akayev in 2000 on charges of abuse of office but was released after Akayev’s ouster.
The United States maintains a military base in Kyrgyzstan – its only such outpost in former Soviet Central Asia – to back up operations in Afghanistan. Russia, which has strong influence in Kyrgyzstan, also has an air base in the country.
