2025-2026: Corruption to Be Completely Eradicated in Kyrgyzstan - Tashiev

The head of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (GKNB), Kamchybek Tashiev, said there would be a significant shift in the country's anti-corruption efforts during a late-night Facebook livestream on January 2, Orda reports, citing Kloop.

Now you won't be able to pay the fine and get out, the corrupt officials will be in jail. They will be banned from holding any positions for life, and their relatives in government positions will be dismissed, Tashiev declared.

The announcement marks a significant departure from the previous program implemented when President Sadyr Japarov and Tashiev came to power. 

The initiative allowed those accused of corruption to avoid prosecution by compensating the state for their crimes.

When we started the fight against organized crime, many did not believe us. Some even laughed, saying that we couldn't do it. Now I responsibly declare that there are no organized criminal groups in Kyrgyzstan anymore, Tashiev said.

The strengthened anti-corruption measures took effect on January 1, following President Japarov's signing of legislation eliminating fines as punishment for corruption. 

The law, passed by Parliament on December 25, replaces monetary penalties with mandatory prison sentences.

It also imposes lifetime bans on public service for convicted officials and their close relatives in cases of severe corruption.

In December 2024, Tashiev had warned that corrupt officials still had time to "commit their crimes" before December 31 and face only fines but would face imprisonment after that date.

He predicts that corruption will be eliminated in Kyrgyzstan by 2025-2026.