Marina Stephens: Homeniuk's Extradition Will Be 'Incredible Political Coup' for Kyrgyzstan

Novinite.com has approached Marina Stephens, wife of Leonard Homeniuk, for an interview focused on his legal battle against a potential extradition to Kyrgyzstan.

Homeniuk, a dual Canadian and United States citizen, has been detained in Bulgaria since late July on an Interpol Red Notice placed by the Kyrgyz authorities. He is is facing a Bulgarian court hearing on the extradition request on September 16.

Leonard Homeniuk is a former CEO of Centerra Gold, one of the world's leading gold mining companies. He held the post between 2004 and 2008. Between 2003 and 2004 he also led a project for the restructuring of Kumtor, the largest gold mine in Kyrgyzstan.

Toronto-based Centerra said last month that "the detention appears to be related to claims by the Kyrgyz Republic authorities of alleged improper transactions with Kyrgyz officials in connection with the restructuring of the Kumtor project".

Q: Why has your husband been entangled in a legal row between the Kyrgyz government and Centerra Gold at this point in time? 

A: Kyrgyzstan went through two revolutions since 2003. Each time, the new government accused the previous governments of corruption. Each time, the government attempted to undo the agreements entered into by previous governments. 

Len has been involved with the project for 16 years and he is the person most associated with Kumtor. He even had the nick-name the "Father of Kumtor." Len oversaw the mine's construction and beginning of its commercial production. 
Today, Kumtor is one of the main political topics in Kyrgyzstan. It is on the menu of every political figure - just look at the mass media. And Kyrgyzstan is about to go into parliamentary...