Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 8 / Trend A.Badalova /
Kyrgyz Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov is ready to resign if his implication in the radioactive coal supplies to Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan is confirmed, KyrTAG quoted Babanov as saying.
"They say that I am involved in this (coal) purchase. And if my guilt is proved, I am ready to resign," Babanov said at a Jogorku Kenesh (Kyrgyz parliament) meeting on Wednesday.
Kazakhstan supplied 8,576 tons of coal from Kulan field to Kyrgyzstan in September. Later, the radiation background of the Kulan field was estimated at 8-10 times higher than the norm. Kyrgyz Attorney General's Office filed a criminal case against officials of the Kyrgyz Railways and Energo Customs Procedures Department under the articles "illegal handling of radioactive materials" and "abuse of power".
Babanov also added that if his guilty is not confirmed, and the accusations by leader of the "Ata-Jurt" faction Kamchibek Tashiev are groundless, the latter should renounce his deputy mandate.
Tashiev in his term stressed that he has all necessary documents, confirming Babanov's implication, and that the Kyrgyz Prime Minister may retire even today.
"Today we have to appeal to the president on this issue, since the Prosecutor's General Office does not dare to commence criminal proceedings against officials who should bear responsibility," Tashiev said.