BISHKEK — The State Committee for National Security detained the former prime minister of Kyrgyzstan Zhantoro Satybaldiev for corruption, the press centre of the committee reported.

He is detained within a criminal investigation into corruption in the modernization of Bishkek Heating and Power Plant. Zhantoro Satybaldiev is charged with corruption.

At present, the ex-prime minister is in the pre-trial detention centre of SCNS. The investigation is under way.

The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan elected Satybaldiyev as prime minister on 5 September 2012 by a 111-2 margin. His election came after the coalition of the previous Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov collapsed in August, following allegations of corruption and a sharp contraction in 5% GDP between January and July 2012. Widely seen as a technocrat, Satybaldiyev was elected to restore order and bring back investment and confidence to Kyrgyzstan. He holds a bachelor’s degree engineering and construction from Frunze Polytechnic Institute’s which he received in 1979.