In a group of 37 employees, 34 are citizens of Kyrgyzstan, two are citizens of Russia, and one is a citizen of Uzbekistan. All emphasize that they were officially employed.
The editorial team of Kaktus.media conducted an investigation into this situation.
Cargo Air Transportation
According to the official website of the company, its main task is to organize regular and charter cargo air transportation using the Airbus A-300B4 aircraft.The company committed to the regular delivery of breeding livestock from Mongolia to Uzbekistan. It was expected to carry out 60 flights, but only 11 were completed in practice.
Nevertheless, employees have not received their salaries for the work done, and there are also unpaid invoices from the airports in Ulaanbaatar, "Navoi," and "Manas." Penalties are already being charged on these invoices.
Debts and Obligations
According to employee statements, in January 2025, the founder of the company, Jamal Abdubekov, withdrew funds from corporate accounts and left Kyrgyzstan. Preliminary data suggests that the amount withdrawn was about $2 million.The company has debts:
- to aviation fuel suppliers;
- for aircraft overflight payments;
- for airport services;
- for taxes;
- for employee salaries.
In May 2025, the company's main asset — the Airbus A-300B4 (registration number EX-30008) — was seized and sold. However, the money from the sale did not reach the company's bank account.
Problems with New Contracts
Several months before the seizure, in February 2025, employees signed a new contract with an airline from Kenya.The Kenyan company Safe Air offered to lease an aircraft for transporting cargo from the port of Mombasa to the Mediterranean coast, which was necessary due to the blockade of shipping in the Red Sea. The company passed a strict compliance check with European safety standards.
"We successfully passed all the checks that other airlines in Kyrgyzstan still need to undergo to exit the blacklist. This was made possible thanks to the enthusiasm of the team and professionalism," the employees share.
However, in May 2025, the company's aircraft was seized due to debts of Abdubekov that were unrelated to its operations.
Creditors demanded that the aircraft be transferred to the company "Kyrgyz Aero Trade," representing the interests of the Russian company "Lambda."
Employees claim that this company had financial ties with Abdubekov.
"Kyrgyz Aero Trade" promised to settle the company's debts and pay salaries, but these promises were never fulfilled," said the workers of "KAP Key Ji."
As a result, tax debts fell on "KAP Key Ji," and the staff demands the nationalization of the company and the Airbus A-300B4 without halting its operations.
In their opinion, this is necessary for:
- preserving the contract with Uzbekistan;
- creating the first state cargo airline of Kyrgyzstan;
- ensuring tax revenues;
- protecting the rights of employees.
Employees also signed a tripartite contract for the supply of breeding livestock from Mongolia to Uzbekistan, which was previously executed.
The parties involved were: the Republic of Uzbekistan, LLC "Kyrgyz Aero Trade" (KAT), and LLC "KAP Key Ji." This agreement was supposed to partially resolve the financial problems of the cargo carrier.
The company "Kyrgyz Aero Trade" insisted on the right to receive all funds under the contract, resulting in the appropriation of over $500,000.
According to the employees, "Uzbekistan transfers money to KAT's account, which committed to pay the bills of 'KAP Key Ji.' However, KAT delays payments, which disrupts the regularity of flights and creates risks for the animals," they emphasize, adding that KAT has not paid salaries, nor settled with fuel suppliers and airports.
Thus, Kyrgyzstan finds itself in an unfavorable light on the international stage. The country risks losing the opportunity to exit the EU blacklist, noted representatives of the airline.Of the 37 employees of "KAP Key Ji," an appeal was sent to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, outlining their problems.
The appeal states that since February 1, 2025, the company has not fulfilled its obligations to pay salaries.
In the administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, it was reported that the appeal has been forwarded to the General Prosecutor's Office and the State Committee for National Security (GKNB).
The response indicates that the agencies have been instructed to assess the actions of the mentioned individuals and organizations within the framework of the legislation, as well as to take measures to preserve the airline's property and fulfill the international agreement with Uzbekistan.
The document also emphasizes the need to respect the labor rights of employees and the financial stability of the company during the investigation. The General Prosecutor's Office and GKNB must report on the implementation of these measures; however, employees report a lack of any changes.
Company employees also reached out to the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan for assistance, as the company's leader is in the U.S.
Aviators filed a lawsuit in the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek against "KAP Key Ji" and its leader Jamal Abdubekov.
Additionally, they propose an alternative solution.
"One of Abdubekov's companies has an aircraft engine that can be sold to pay off debts. But without this, we cannot resolve our problems. Each of us hopes for our salaries," concluded the affected employees.
Currently, the amount of the claim for the recovery of salaries for the period from February 1, 2025, to March 1, 2026, minus the salary paid for August 2025, amounts to 109,293,567.08 soms. The court has accepted the case for consideration.
