Nine-year prison terms requested for Tashiyev and former Kyrgyz ambassador to Uzbekistan

Yesterday, June 29, prosecutors requested nine-year prison sentences for each defendant in an ongoing criminal case on preparation to seize power at the Pervomaisky District Court in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. AKIpress reported this.

It was noted that debates between the parties began during the closed court hearing chaired by Judge Aziret Mederov. Prosecutors asked the judge to find all defendants in the case guilty and sentence each of them to nine years in prison.

Earlier, lawyer Ikromidin Aitkulov said that during the hearing, former State Committee for National Security Chairman Kamchybek Tashiyev appealed to state prosecutors with a proposal to drop the charges.

Kamchybek Tashiyev was dismissed on February 10, 2026, from the posts of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and head of the State Committee for National Security. Later, a criminal case known as the “letter of the 75” was opened against him.

The investigation accuses the former head of the special service of preparing to seize power by force and abusing official authority. Seven other people are also on trial with him: former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev, former Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, Bekbolot Talgarbekov, Kursan Asanov, Kurmanbek Diykanbayev, Ali Karashev and Emil Uzakboyev, Kyrgyzstan’s former Minister of Agriculture and former ambassador to Uzbekistan.

After the case was sent to court, the materials were classified, which is why the hearings were being held behind closed doors. In mid-June, the trial was temporarily declared open, but from June 22, the court again decided to hold hearings without the participation of the press and the public.

Tashiyev’s resignation

On February 10 this year, Kamchybek Tashiyev, Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security and Deputy Prime Minister, was dismissed from his post by a decree of President Sadyr Japarov. He explained his decision by saying he wanted to “prevent division in society.” Tashiyev himself said he learned about the decision while undergoing a scheduled examination in Germany after heart surgery.

Following Tashiyev, his first deputy Kurbonbek Avazov, Cybersecurity Center Director Daniel Risaliyev and Anti-Terrorism Center Director Elizar Smanov were also dismissed. Abdukarim Alimboyev was relieved of his post as First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for National Security and appointed Chairman of the State Border Service. Rustam Mamasadykov, who had served as Secretary of the Security Council, replaced him.

Jumgalbek Shabdanbekov, who had served since 2020 as head of the 9th Service of the State Committee for National Security and deputy chairman, was appointed acting chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security.

On the same day, the Border Service was also removed from the structure of the state committee.

The Japarov-Tashiyev tandem

For reference, Kamchybek Tashiyev was appointed Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security on October 16, 2020. The decree was signed by Sadyr Japarov, who was acting president after the events of October 5-6, 2020.

The long-standing relationship between Kamchybek Tashiyev and current President Sadyr Japarov had been regarded as one of the most stable and influential political alliances in the country. Their cooperation began long before they came to power: in the early 2010s, they were on the same side in several political processes and also went through a common criminal episode in 2012, which further strengthened their personal closeness.

After the events of October 2020, the tandem took its final shape: Sadyr Japarov took the presidency, while Kamchybek Tashiyev was appointed head of the State Committee for National Security and became the main pillar of the security bloc. He oversaw the most high-profile cases, shaped security policy and was effectively one of the closest trusted figures in the President’s team.

Among experts, their alliance was often described as the strongest political duo in the country, while any personnel changes around Kamchybek Tashiyev were seen as a sign of serious changes in the configuration of power.

Recently, rumors had circulated in political circles that the head of the special service might participate in the upcoming presidential election. Kamchybek Tashiyev, however, repeatedly stated that he did not intend to run for president and that he supported Sadyr Japarov.