The Great Game
The FBI is checking into whether the Kyrgyz ex-President Askar Akaev and his family pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars, partly from Pentagon fuel contracts, before he was expelled last spring.
The family was involved at the Manas base, but Akaev's abrupt departure in March has put the Pentagon in an awkward bind. It needs continued access to the base, but the $207 million spent on fuel contracts has created resentment among the country's new leaders, some of whom contend that the United States knew where the proceeds were going, American media reported.
A lawyer representing the Akaev family, Maksim Maksimovich, said the former president had not been involved in improper business dealings connected with the base and described the Kyrgyz investigation as politically motivated.
Pentagon officials say the two businesses, Manas International Services and Aalam Services, were used not because of their connections but because they were the only ones with facilities to transport and store fuel at the air base in Bishkek, the capital. Although the Akayevs may have benefited, the officials said, Pentagon rules do not bar contracts with companies that have ties to a foreign leader.
Related News
19.11.2005
08:05 (GMT) The President of Uzbekistan appointed new Defense Minister.
18.11.2005 007 News
11:52 (GMT) The heads of the secret services of Central Asian ex-Soviet republics and Russia met in Kazakh capital of Astana.
18.11.2005 007 News
09:25 (GMT) CIA aborted cooperation with Uzbekistan.
The family was involved at the Manas base, but Akaev's abrupt departure in March has put the Pentagon in an awkward bind. It needs continued access to the base, but the $207 million spent on fuel contracts has created resentment among the country's new leaders, some of whom contend that the United States knew where the proceeds were going, American media reported.
A lawyer representing the Akaev family, Maksim Maksimovich, said the former president had not been involved in improper business dealings connected with the base and described the Kyrgyz investigation as politically motivated.
Pentagon officials say the two businesses, Manas International Services and Aalam Services, were used not because of their connections but because they were the only ones with facilities to transport and store fuel at the air base in Bishkek, the capital. Although the Akayevs may have benefited, the officials said, Pentagon rules do not bar contracts with companies that have ties to a foreign leader.
Related News
19.11.2005
08:05 (GMT) The President of Uzbekistan appointed new Defense Minister.
18.11.2005 007 News
11:52 (GMT) The heads of the secret services of Central Asian ex-Soviet republics and Russia met in Kazakh capital of Astana.
18.11.2005 007 News
09:25 (GMT) CIA aborted cooperation with Uzbekistan.
posted by professor rat at 2:03 AM
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