Companies in Kyrgyzstan corruption …
Monday, May 10th, 2010 Uncategorized.
By By Richard Orange in London
Published: 11:20AM BST 10 May 2010
A US Congress committee up~ the body April 12 began investigating Red Star Enterprises and Mina Corp, their contracts to invest fuel to the US’s Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan, and their “unexplained relationships” with the families of two successive presidents.
The two companies also conformation in the corruption investigation the Kyrgyz government launched on Tuesday into Maksim Bakiyev, the son of deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
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Manas was the subject of intense speculation ultimate month, after a violent uprising swept Bakiyev from power, leading to fears in the US soldierly that the new government, then thought to have Russian backing, would cessation the airbase. Manas is a key supply hub for Afghanistan.
But the novel government has since committed to hosting the base for another year.
The Congress Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs is investigating the execution of the $1bn character of US jet fuel supply contracts Red Star Enterprises and Mina Corp be favored with won since 2003.
Kyrgyzstan’s interim government claims Maksim Bakiyev owns independent Red Star and Mina Corp subcontractors, and has skimmed off $8m a month from the deals.
Anger at a uniform arrangement with the son of Askar Akayev, the previous president, helped give rise to 2005’s ‘Tulip’ revolution.
“Two overthrows of the command there have been linked to corrupt dealings at Manas airbase,” reported John F. Tierney, the committee’s chairman, last month. “That’s that which we’re looking into.”
Tierney said last month that the committee did not over and above know who owned Red Star and Mina Corp. But his pole have since traced the two companies to an office at 20, Conduit Street in Mayfair.
Inside, Mina Corp and Red Star’s logos are clearly displayed. Senior bludgeon include Chuck Squires, a former US defence attaché, and Doug Edelman.
The sum of ~ units companies have hired Tony Fratto, a public affairs consultant and prior press secretary to President George W Bush, to represent them. They missed a May 3 deadline to betray their ownership and contract details to the committee.
A spokesperson as being the companies said: “Mina Corp continues to have daily interactions by the Kyrgyz government authorities, and we will work with the subcommittee to constitution sure they have all they need.”
Michael McFaul, US President Barack Obama’s chieftain Central Asia foreign policy adviser, said on Thursday in Bishkek that the US power replace the controversial contracts with government-to-government deals.