Turkey to provide information to Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry on businessmen Saimaiti’s murder

Bishkek, Nov.26, 2019 /Kabar/. Turkish authorities will provide information to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan on the murder of Aierken Saimaiti.

On Nov. 25, 2019 Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Minister, Major General of Militia Kashkar Dzhunushaliyev met with Adviser on Internal Affairs of the Turkish Embassy in Kyrgyzstan Mehmet Tatli and representative of the Gendarmerie of the Turkey’s Ministry of Internal Affairs under the Turkish Embassy in Kyrgyzstan Tuncay Alyan, the press service of the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry reported Tuesday.

In the course of the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, the sides exchanged views and discussed issues, including the progress of the investigation of the murder of Aierken Saimaiti, the crime committed in Istanbul.

Besides, Interior Minister Kashkar Dzhunushaliyev held telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Süleyman Soylu.

The interior ministers highly appreciated the current level of bilateral cooperation between the law enforcement agencies, and reaffirmed their intention to continue active efforts to further deepen cooperation to ensure stability and security.

In the course of the conversation, an agreement was reached to provide information on the murder of Aierken Saimaiti.

Aierken Saimaiti, a businessman and Chinese citizen, was killed on Nov. 10 in a cafe in Istanbul. The name of this businessman appeared in the investigation of Ali Toktakunov, journalist of Azattyk (Kyrgyz service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, RFE/RL, which broadcasts to Kyrgyzstan) about corruption at customs. It was alleged that Saimaiti had withdrawn about $700 million from the country, and the smuggling schemes lead to former Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic Raiym Matraiymov.

At the scene of Saimaiti’s murder, a car belonging to then Consul General of the Kyrgyz Republic in Istanbul Erkin Sopokov was found.

Previously, three people detained on suspicion of murder said they killed the victim because of his financial differences with his partners in Kyrgyzstan.