“Strong-hand” policy: What impact did the Tashiyev phenomenon have?

Earlier, it was reported that Kamchybek Tashiyev had been dismissed from his posts as head of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (SCNS) and deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers. Soon after, his deputies also lost their positions. Jumgalbek Shabdanbekov was appointed acting head of the SCNS.

On the same day, by presidential decree, President Sadyr Japarov removed the Border Service from the SCNS. In addition, the Ninth Special Unit responsible for protecting high-ranking officials was established as a separate body directly subordinated to the president. As a result, the powers of the state committee that had accumulated many key functions were sharply reduced. According to sources in the security services, this is only the beginning, and the SCNS is expected to undergo major reforms. In the future, special services will mainly focus on counterintelligence, intelligence, and the fight against extremism and terrorism.

Kyrgyz political analyst and expert Edil Baysalov described the process as “the unexpected end of a certain political and historical stage.”

SCNS under Tashiyev

Kamchybek Tashiyev began leading the SCNS on October 16, 2020. Within five years, the committee became the country’s main security body and significantly expanded its influence. In November 2020, the State Border Service was placed under SCNS control. The presidential administration said this was done to strengthen the fight against smuggling, organized crime infiltration, and the illegal import of drugs and weapons. In March 2021, the State Service for Combating Economic Crimes was dissolved, and its functions were transferred to the SCNS.

Another initiative during Tashiyev’s tenure was a draft law to reform special ranks in the tax, customs, and prosecutor’s offices. The proposal banned these employees from wearing uniforms or holding military-style ranks, reserving that right exclusively for law enforcement agencies. Notably, this issue was urgently reviewed by the relevant parliamentary committee on February 10 following Tashiyev’s appeal.

At the same time, internal security units were strengthened across many state agencies, and former SCNS employees began to be appointed to senior positions in civilian institutions. For example, former head of the SCNS department in Jalal-Abad region Kanibek Dusmambetov became Minister of Health.

According to Tashiyev, by 2020 the committee had fallen into decline, with regional staff forced to work in cramped and unsuitable buildings such as former libraries and cultural centers due to poor conditions. He said the workforce was demoralized, corruption was widespread, and some employees had even leaked information to criminal groups. Under his leadership, new district SCNS buildings were constructed, and housing, kindergartens, and recreation facilities were built for special service employees.

Fight against organized crime

One of the SCNS’s main priorities became combating organized crime. Tashiyev stated that organized criminal groups had effectively functioned as a second government in some regions. The campaign began decisively with a special operation on October 3, 2023, during which crime boss Kamchy Kolbayev was killed. Mass arrests followed across the country. Tashiyev repeatedly declared that organized criminal groups would no longer exist in Kyrgyzstan. His phrases “we will expose them” and “respected bandits” became memes on social media.

“I personally lead the fight against organized crime. Behind me stand the national security bodies, law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor’s office, and the courts. Together we will eliminate organized criminal groups,” Tashiyev said.

The campaign also affected the business sector. Several major entrepreneurs were arrested on suspicion of financing criminal groups. Mid-sized businesses also became wary of the attention of special services. At the same time, Tashiyev promised to stop illegal inspections starting January 1 of this year.

“Kusturization”

Sadyr Japarov pledged to wage a tough fight against corruption. Initially, arrests, high-profile criminal cases, and detentions of officials followed. However, it later became clear that real prison sentences were not always applied. Many suspects were allowed to mitigate punishment by returning assets or compensating the state for damages. This process became known in the media as “kusturization.”

According to Tashiyev, more than 300 billion soms (nearly $3.5 billion) in assets were returned to the state over five years, along with more than 1,000 enterprises and other facilities and over 30,000 hectares of land.

In 2024, at the initiative of the SCNS, an anti-corruption law was adopted that introduced prison terms and imposed a lifetime ban on public service for those convicted of corruption and their close relatives.

SCNS everywhere, in everything

Although its formal powers were not significantly expanded by law, in practice the SCNS began performing functions related to the police, local authorities, and even sanitary services, often on Tashiyev’s personal instructions.

Fight against prostitution

In November 2023, during the opening of another SCNS building, Tashiyev addressed prostitution in the country.

“If we do not speak about this, who will? When people like us raise such issues, society pays attention. Recently, the behavior of girls, especially students, has deteriorated. They come from villages to study in Bishkek, bring money from their parents, study, and then end up engaged in prostitution,” he said, ordering the elimination of brothels across cities and public spaces.

Operations soon began nationwide to identify brothels disguised as massage parlors, saunas, karaoke bars, and hotel rooms. However, the methods used by SCNS officers sparked criticism from human rights activists after women’s personal data were publicly released.

One of the most controversial incidents occurred on November 27, 2023, when the SCNS announced the detention of 137 women accused of providing sexual services. The statement included photos and personal details of some of the detainees, which the agency described as “preventive measures.”

Healthcare

In 2023, the committee began inspecting dental clinics. Violations were found in tax compliance, licensing, and adherence to sanitary and epidemiological standards. In Jalal-Abad region, serious violations were found in 78 of 122 clinics. Employees of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service were arrested on suspicion of organizing corruption schemes involving illegal certificates.

Inspections were also conducted in beauty salons and aesthetic clinics, where substandard and smuggled medications were allegedly discovered.

The national security agency explained the inspections by saying that “the nation’s gene pool could be at risk in the near future, as many young women use cosmetology services.”

Education

The SCNS began identifying corruption in the education sector. Several school principals in the capital were detained while allegedly accepting bribes for first-grade admissions. After reviewing electronic enrollment systems, the committee also uncovered fraudulent registrations. The Ministry of Education warned parents and school administrators that first-grade admissions were under SCNS supervision.

The committee also influenced changes to the transition to a 12-year education system. Initially, first- and second-grade admissions were planned simultaneously for the 2025–26 academic year, along with accelerated student advancement. For example, third-grade graduates were to move directly to the fifth grade, and sixth-grade graduates to the eighth grade. Following parental backlash, Tashiyev took an interest in the reform. After his intervention, the Ministry of Education revised the plan.

Universities were not exempt from SCNS attention. Following inspections, several university leaders were dismissed and thousands of students expelled. Tashiyev personally warned that students who skipped classes or failed to complete exams on time would face punishment.

Food security

Although food safety formally falls under other agencies, the SCNS also intervened in this area. In July 2025, the committee reported finding expired products in the Korzinka store. Investigators said the company had imported expired sauces, cheeses, seafood, and delicacies for five to six years and sold them as new products in major markets, cafes, and restaurants in Bishkek. SCNS officers also oversaw the destruction of the goods. Issues such as rising prices for flour, meat, and other products were also monitored by Tashiyev.

Domestic violence

Combating domestic violence is primarily the responsibility of police and social services, but the SCNS became involved on Tashiyev’s instructions. He urged victims to contact the committee and personally monitored several serious cases.

Energy

In November 2025, amid an energy crisis, Tashiyev instructed city authorities and law enforcement agencies to ban cafes and restaurants from operating after 10 p.m. and to cut electricity in case of violations. Although the SCNS was not formally responsible for this, his directive was implemented. Authorities in Bishkek, Osh, and other major cities announced restrictions. He also stated that cryptocurrency mining would be banned in Kyrgyzstan until spring 2026.

Pressure on civil society

As the SCNS’s influence grew, pressure on civil society also increased. Journalists, human rights activists, and civic activists frequently reported summons, detentions, and searches. Ordinary citizens, especially those active on social media, also felt the pressure. For example, the administrator of the popular Instagram page “Babskiy blog” was summoned by the SCNS after posting about business losses caused by restrictions on late-night operations of cafes and restaurants. To avoid attention from the committee, entrepreneurs, politicians, and public figures became more cautious in public and political life.

These examples show that within five years the SCNS evolved from a typical special service focused on crime and corruption into a broad, multi-purpose institution involved in areas ranging from market prices to school admissions.

E’zoza Olimova