BBC man quits after claims he helped to topple president in Kyrgyzstan revolt

Arslan Koichiev, 45, who presented and produced a daily show for the country’s six million people, allegedly acted as mentor for a rebel leader. The BBC World Service presenter was even pursued by secret police who tried to kill him with acid, according to the new children’s minister of Kyrgyzstan, Aliasbek Alymkulov.

Mr Alymkulov claimed that Koichiev arranged secret meetings “through the BBC” and marched on the presidential palace during the April 7 uprising last year. In a further bizarre twist, Koichiev, 45, is accused of appearing on a Kyrgyz radio station under a pseudonym and disguising his voice. He denies the claims.