“He Was Not Ready”: Japarov Drops Plan to Back Tashiev and Will Seek Re-Election

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov says he once planned to step aside after his first term and support Kamchybek Tashiev in the 2027 presidential election. He later changed his mind and now intends to seek a second term, Orda.kz reports, citing 24.kg.

Japarov discussed the abandoned succession plan in an interview with journalist Ali Toktakunov.

According to the president, he initially intended to leave office after completing his first six-year term, while Tashiev would run in the 2027 election.

I thought that after my six-year presidential term ended in 2027, I would not seek re-election if Kamchy was ready. Kamchy would become president, and I would take a break,Japarov said.

Japarov said he had warned Tashiev about the plan and advised him to prepare for the election and keep his inner circle under control. He later concluded that Tashiev was not ready to become president.

Then I saw that he was not ready. His staff were not behaving as they should, and people around him began acting as though they were above everyone else. When the letter from 75 elders appeared and parliament began splitting into supporters of the general, I called him and said: ‘This is not good. You cannot divide people. So do not be offended — I am dismissing you,Japarov said.

The president stressed that he and Tashiev had been friends since 2005 and would remain friends. He praised Tashiev’s five years as head of the State Committee for National Security but said he had failed to control those around him.

He worked well for five years. His one shortcoming was that he could not keep his friends and former classmates in check. He was dismissed,Japarov said.

Japarov said he had no plans to appoint Tashiev to another government position. If the former security chief decides to run for president, however, he will be treated like any other candidate.

I intend to run for another term and continue working. Anyone else who wants to participate in the election is free to run. We will not restrict anyone,the president said.

Kyrgyzstan’s next presidential election is scheduled for January 24, 2027. Japarov won the January 2021 snap election with 79.2% of the vote.

What Led to the Split

On February 10, 2026, Japarov dismissed Tashiev as deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and head of the State Committee for National Security.

Tashiev’s associates were subsequently removed from law enforcement agencies. Several of his deputies and other senior security officials lost their positions. Parliamentary Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, considered a political ally of Tashiev, also resigned.

Arrests followed. According to Reuters, at least five prominent Tashiev supporters were detained on accusations of attempting to encourage unrest and divide society.

Authorities later opened a criminal case against Tashiev himself, which became known as “Case 75.” Shortly before the investigation began, 75 politicians and public figures had sent Japarov an open letter calling for an early presidential election.

On July 2, a Bishkek court delivered its verdict. Tashiev received a four-year suspended prison sentence with confiscation of property.

Former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev, former parliamentary speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu and five other defendants received the same punishment. None will serve time in prison. The court dropped the charge of abuse of office.

Japarov Has Faced Similar Accusations

Japarov has himself faced accusations concerning the conduct and growing influence of his relatives and associates.

In November 2025, former Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev published a sharply worded statement accusing Japarov of damaging the country.

Atambayev alleged that independent political parties had been dismantled, politicians and ordinary citizens were being imprisoned over social media posts, and the president’s relatives and associates were rapidly accumulating wealth.

He also noted that Kyrgyzstan had fallen from 89th to 144th place in the global press freedom ranking over five years.

Original author: Ruslan Loginov

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