RFE/RL carries a story on possible criminal proceedings against former president Askar Akaev. While the same source reported two days ago that, according to the Deputy Prosecutor-General, no such thing has been launched, Akaev might now get formally stripped of his immunity.

In June 2006, there were about 100 legal proceedings against Akaev, his family and close friends. Among the many rumours abound were that Akaev’s family controlled the cigarette market and the petrol supply for the American Manas airbase. They allegedly also own(ed) several nightclubs, swish property in the near mountains, etc.

Amidst the above, this can’t really come as a surprise:

In particular, the former president is suspected of secretly ordering the transfer of 1.6 tons of gold from Kyrgyzstan to Switzerland during his tenure.

Prosecutors estimate the cost of the transaction at more than $17 million and say none of that money was returned to Kyrgyzstan’s state coffers.

Also, potential lawsuits against Akaev’s son, Aidar, are under consideration.

They also say they are investigating the disappearance of $500,000 from the Finance Ministry, where Akaev’s son Aidar was working as an adviser.

Most of the Akaev clan is believed to live in Moscow these days, although Aidar is still a formal member of the Kyrgyz parliament. It seems, though, that he will get stripped off his already vacant seat, although his lawyers have filed appeals against what they see as an unlawful decision:

“Should [election commission members] have invited [Aidar] Akaev to their session, he or his representatives would have been able to defend his interests,” Aitbaev said. “Since that did not happen, the right a lawmaker has to defend his or her interests have been directly violated.”

However, Aidar might not want to return to Kyrgyzstan any time soon. Two earlier calls for extradition and a warrant for his arrest waiting back home will probably make him stay as far a way from Kyrgyzstan as possible. And as it might just get a little boring up there in Moscow, both father and son are suing the Kyrgyz authorities in absentia.