Where in the world is Maksim Bakiyev?

While his father’s regime was being overthrown back in Kyrgyzstan, Maksim Bakiyev — who was the head of the country’s Agency for Investment and Economic Development — was on his way to the U.S. for a series of meetings in Washington. The new government charged Maksim with embezzlement and abuse of power on Friday, the ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

While his father's regime was being overthrown back in Kyrgyzstan, Maksim Bakiyev -- who was the head of the country's Agency for Investment and Economic Development -- was on his way to the U.S. for a series of meetings in Washington. The new government charged Maksim with embezzlement and abuse of power on Friday, the only problem is that no one now knows where he is. 

While his father’s regime was being overthrown back in Kyrgyzstan, Maksim Bakiyev — who was the head of the country’s Agency for Investment and Economic Development — was on his way to the U.S. for a series of meetings in Washington. The new government charged Maksim with embezzlement and abuse of power on Friday, the only problem is that no one now knows where he is. 

RFE/RL’s Richard Solash explains

 During an April 14 press briefing, U.S. State Department spokesperson Philip Crowley was asked by a reporter whether Maksim Bakiev was seeking asylum stateside — one of the various rumors that have been swirling in recent days.

Crowley’s response: “We don’t believe his [Kurmanbek Bakiev’s] son is in the United States. We don’t know where he is.”

Someone going by "maksimbakiyev" was posting on Livejournal last week, but gave no clues about his whereabouts.

He’s not the only one laying low. No one is currently answering the phone at the Kyrgyz embassy in Washington and a recorded message says the voicemail-box is full.

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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