Former Kyrgyz Minister of Emergency Situations Boobek Azhikeev has been detained on suspicion of abuse of office. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
According to the country's military prosecutor's office, the case concerns illegal construction on the territory of the "Baitik" weather station. An inspection showed that a service and utility building was constructed on the weather station's territory without design, estimate, or permitting documentation. The facility was built just five meters from the Ala-Archa River, in a water protection zone where construction is prohibited.
The prosecutor's office stated that the actions of Emergency Ministry officials caused damage to the state on an especially large scale.
"The former Minister of Emergency Situations A.B. has been detained on suspicion of a crime under Part 4 of Article 337 of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan. He was placed in the temporary detention center of the Bishkek City Internal Affairs Department," the military prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Boobek Azhikeev headed Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations from October 2021 to February 2026. President Sadyr Japarov dismissed him from his post on February 16 following personnel changes in the government.
As specified by Kaktus.Media, Azhikeev was sent into retirement amid dismissals of people in the inner circle of former State Committee for National Security head Kamchybek Tashiev.
The day before, a verdict was handed down to Tashiev in Bishkek. Initially, the charge was related to preparation for a violent seizure of power. However, during the trial, the qualification of the case was changed.
Ultimately, Tashiev and seven other defendants were found guilty under the article on obstructing the exercise of electoral rights. Instead of the nine years requested by the prosecutor's office, the court sentenced them to four years of imprisonment each.