A reputed crime boss from Kyrgyzstan who was released from prison last year under false pretenses has been arrested in Russia's Republic of North Ossetia.
Kyrgyz Interior Ministry officials told RFE/RL on July 2 that authorities are now working on Aziz Batukaev's extradition to Kyrgyzstan.
Batukaev, a Chechen, was sentenced to almost 17 years in jail in 2006 for involvement in several serious crimes, including the murders of a Kyrgyz lawmaker and an Interior Ministry official.
Prison officials released Batukaev in April 2013, saying that he was suffering from leukemia.
His medical report was later found to have been falsified.
Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Prime Minister Shamil Atakhanov resigned and the country's ombudsman, Tursunbek Akun, was sacked in the wake of the scandal.
Kyrgyz Prime Minister Joomart Otorbaev said on July 2 that Batukaev's extradition will proceed in accordance with all corresponding international laws.
