Fine and deprivation of awards. The former chairman of the STS Abduvapov and his deputy Kydyrgichov were sentenced. According to the SCNS, the detention of the defendants took place on December 6, 2024, as part of a case under Article 337 Part 3 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic ("Abuse of Office"). The actions in question were committed before the amendments to the Criminal Code that increased penalties for corrupt acts. Therefore, the court applied the norms of the previous version of the Criminal Code, which allowed for a fine to be imposed upon admission of guilt and conclusion of a procedural agreement.
During the investigation, both defendants fully admitted their guilt and returned 4 billion 307 million soms to the state.
The SCNS reports that the obtained confessions and the data from investigative actions allowed for the identification and dismantling of a stable corruption scheme within the tax service, which involved employees of the Central Office's Inspection Department of the STS and several other officials.
“These measures have impacted tax collection indicators: by the end of 2025, tax revenues and insurance contributions exceeded the planned amount by 40 billion soms. Currently, the investigation continues regarding other participants in the case,” the statement noted.
Background:
The former head of the STS Altynbek Abduvapov and his deputy Islambek Kydyrgichov were summoned for questioning at the SCNS on December 5-6, 2024, after which they were placed in the SCNS detention center on December 6.
Three days prior, searches were conducted in four district offices of the State Tax Service in the capital.
The SCNS reports that some major producers and importers of excise goods (such as alcohol and tobacco products), who supplied products mainly to the southern regions of the country, recorded discrepancies in their accounting data and withdrew shipping documents.
“In 2024, STS employees ignored numerous facts of withdrawal and discrepancies in shipping documents for excise goods in Bishkek totaling more than 3.2 billion soms,” the SCNS stated.
According to the investigation, 1 million ETTHNs were returned; however, none of them were checked by tax inspectors. The total turnover for ETTHNs amounted to 464 billion soms, while the amount of unpaid taxes reached 30 billion soms.
The SCNS also reported that the former chairman of the STS Abduvapov had assets discovered both in Kyrgyzstan and abroad worth $55 million, including a house in Bodrum, a business in Almaty, real estate in Bishkek, and shares in the construction sector.
Reference:
Article 337. Abuse of Office of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic
(As amended by the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic dated December 31, 2024, No. 209)
1. The use of official position contrary to the interests of service, causing significant harm,
- is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities.
2. The same act, committed with the intent to derive benefits for oneself or others,
- is punishable by imprisonment for two to five years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities.
3. The act specified in part 2, resulting in serious harm,
- is punishable by imprisonment for five to eight years with confiscation of property, with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities.
4. Acts specified in parts 1, 2, or 3, committed by an official holding a responsible position,
- are punishable by imprisonment for eight to ten years with confiscation of property and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities.
