Tashiyev’s prosecutor nephew removed from post – media

On 14 February, Kyrgyzstan’s Transport Prosecutor’s Office of Kyrgyzstan chief, Nurgozi Matisoqov, was dismissed from his position. The outlet Kaktus.media reported this, citing its own sources.

According to the report, Matisoqov was removed from his prosecutor post as part of personnel reshuffles within the prosecution system.

The report notes that he previously held a number of positions within prosecutorial bodies, including serving as a district prosecutor in the Chuy Region’s Uzgen District, Jayyl District, and Issyk-Ata District.

Media reports say Matisoqov is the nephew of Kamchybek Tashiyev, the former head of the State Committee for National Security (Kyrgyzstan). His brother, Boygozi Matisoqov, is reported to be the CEO of Bay Company and Bay-Tash Company, and has reportedly led the Jalal-Abad Oil Refinery since 2021.

No announcement has yet been made regarding a new appointment to the post, and no official comment from the Prosecutor General’s Office of Kyrgyzstan has been published.

Tashiyev’s resignation

On 10 February this year, Kamchybek Tashiyev, who served as chair of the State Committee for National Security and as a deputy prime minister, was dismissed by decree of President Sadyr Japarov. Tashiyev said he made the decision in order “to avoid divisions in society.” He also stated that he learned of the dismissal while undergoing a scheduled check-up after heart surgery in Germany.

Following Tashiyev’s departure, his first deputy, Qurbonbek Avazov, as well as Daniel Risaliyev, director of the Cybersecurity Center, and Elizar Smanov, director of the Antiterror Center, were also dismissed. Abdukarim Alimboyev was removed as first deputy chair of the State Committee for National Security and appointed head of the State Border Service (Kyrgyzstan). He was replaced by Rustam Mamasadiqov, who had been serving as secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan.

Jumgalbek Shabdanbekov, who had served since 2020 as head of the ninth service and as a deputy chair of the State Committee for National Security, was appointed acting chair of the agency.

The same day, the Border Service was also removed from the State Committee structure, according to the report.

The Japarov–Tashiyev tandem

For context, Tashiyev was appointed chair of the State Committee for National Security on 16 October 2020. The decree was signed by Japarov in his capacity as acting president following the events of 5–6 October 2020.

For years, Tashiyev’s relationship with President Japarov was often described as one of the country’s most stable and influential political alliances. Their cooperation began well before they came to power together: they repeatedly appeared on the same side of political developments in the early 2010s and were linked by a shared 2012 criminal episode, which observers said reinforced their personal closeness.

After the October 2020 events, the tandem took its final shape: Japarov assumed the presidency, while Tashiyev became head of the security service and a central pillar of the power bloc. He was widely seen as overseeing the most high-profile cases, shaping security policy, and serving as one of the president’s closest confidants.

Among analysts, their alliance was often described as the country’s most resilient political duo, and any personnel changes around Tashiyev were commonly interpreted as a sign of significant shifts in the balance of power.

In recent months, rumors circulated in political circles that the security chief could take part in future presidential elections. Tashiyev, however, repeatedly said he did not plan to run and would support Japarov.