Kukaev began his career in 1996, working as a district inspector in the Uzgen district. His path continued with service in the rapid response department, and in 2002 he headed the police of the village of Jazy. In 2005, he became the head of the investigative department, and from 2008 to 2016, he worked in the Internal Affairs Department of the Osh region, leading the department for combating cattle theft. In 2016, he submitted his resignation and retired.
The lieutenant colonel noted that associations with the concept of "legality" are often linked to the work of the police, and unfortunately, some unscrupulous employees form a negative opinion about the entire service. "I always dreamed of becoming a military serviceman, but my father insisted on something else — in 1981, I entered a pedagogical college in Frunze in the philology department. After graduation, I worked as a teacher for seven years, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the salary situation became critical. Instead of money, we were given useless items. I realized that I needed to look for another job, and my dreams of serving in the police became relevant again," he recalls.
Kukaev studied at the secondary special school of the Ministry of Internal Affairs named after Major General of Police Zh. Shabirov in Bishkek, and upon graduation in 1995, his life changed dramatically. "Working as a policeman opened up another side of life for me; I encountered cruelty and crimes. This requires you to be a psychologist. Not everyone is capable of murder; you need to have certain mental disorders for that," he says.
He shared memories of a brutal crime that occurred in 2003 when he headed the police station in Jazy. One of the locals, Abdu, was drinking alcohol with a friend and, succumbing to persuasion, committed murder. To cover up the traces, he tied the body to a horse and buried it in a desolate place. Later, after interrogations and investigative actions, the truth was uncovered, and the criminal was apprehended.
Kukaev also recounted a case related to the disappearance of a woman in the village of Myrza-Ake. The missing woman could not be found for a whole year, and only later was a suspect identified. Together with a colleague, they went to Kara-Kulja, where a dubious young man was hiding. He was detained, and during the investigation, he confessed to the murder, claiming he acted under circumstances.
Another story concerns a high-profile crime in the village of Changet, where a 19-year-old boy killed a man who had humiliated him. This case became a vivid example of how words can lead to terrible consequences.
Kukaev, reflecting on his son's future, admitted that he would not want him to choose a career in the police. "I would like him to become an airport dispatcher. I went through many difficulties in my service, and I don't want him to experience the same," says the lieutenant colonel.
He also shared how during his service, he often had to spend weeks searching for criminals, forgetting about home and family. "At that time, there were no service vehicles; we had to use taxis at our own expense. We served with complete dedication, and family took a back seat," Kukaev adds.
Despite the challenges, he never regretted his choice. "I served my homeland honestly and with dignity. There were, of course, mistakes, but that is part of the job. If I had the opportunity to start over, I would choose to serve in law enforcement again," he concludes.
In 2016, at his own request, he retired, preserving the values instilled by his father: "Be honest, serve your people." Mamatay Kukaev is proud that he was able to serve his people and maintain his reputation.
