A native of Dushanbe has taken the position of Deputy Head of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan

In Bishkek, following the dismissal of Kamchybek Tashiev from the position of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Kyrgyzstan, personnel changes continue within the security forces and government agencies of the country.

President Sadyr Japarov appointed Akylbek Namazov as Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for National Security on February 17. He replaced Timur Shabdanbekov in this position. Akylbek Namazov was born on April 3, 1971, in the city of Dushanbe.

Prior to this, he held the position of Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service of Kyrgyzstan.

Earlier, President Sadyr Japarov unexpectedly dismissed Kamchybek Tashiev, his close associate and long-time ally, from all positions held. According to reports, President Japarov’s decree caught the former head of the SCNS by surprise. Tashiev had flown to Germany for treatment and was abroad when he was dismissed.

Following this, Sadyr Japarov began reforms within the structure of this agency. Thus, by presidential decree, the Border Service was removed from the SCNS of Kyrgyzstan.

A State Protection Service was also established. It is based on the 9th service of the SCNS. This service was also removed from the SCNS and is now directly subordinate to the head of state.

Amid Tashiev’s dismissal, Sadyr Japarov stated that he “made this decision in the interests of the state, in order to prevent a split in society, including between state structures, and, on the contrary, to strengthen unity.”

Along with Tashiev, several of his deputies were also dismissed, and several others were detained on suspicion of corruption and other crimes.

Tashiev was dismissed against the backdrop of a public appeal to the president and the speaker of parliament. The letter was signed by 75 individuals, including politicians and cultural and scientific figures, who requested the appointment of extraordinary presidential elections.

Later, five initiators of the appeal, namely public figure Bekbolot Talgarbeckov, former Kyrgyz ambassador to Uzbekistan Emilbek Uzakbaev, former parliament deputy Kurmanbek Dyikanbaev, former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kursan Asanov, and former governor of Osh region, former First Deputy Prime Minister Aaly Karashev were detained. They were accused of participating in the organization of mass riots and other illegal actions.

After this, against the backdrop of “serious political changes,” the speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament, Nurlan Turgunbek, voluntarily resigned.

Moreover, personnel reshuffles continue in other government structures of Kyrgyzstan. On February 16 of this year, by presidential decree of Sadyr Japarov, the Minister of Transport and Communications Abdykarim Sygaybaev, Minister of Natural Resources Meder Mashiev, and Minister of Emergency Situations Boobek Azhikeev were relieved of their positions.

Kyrgyz media refer to the dismissed officials as close associates of Kamchybek Tashiev. However, neither Tashiev nor his entourage have commented on the personnel changes suddenly initiated by President Japarov.