In an interview with "Kabar," Sadyr Japarov commented on the situation with Azhiev:
— Hello, Sadyr Nurgodzhoevich. The discussion around Daniil Azhiev, who was convicted for illegal activities, has become very active. Social media users express dissatisfaction that he, allegedly, flew out of prison by helicopter and is now leading a luxurious lifestyle. This undermines trust in the authorities. What is your view on this? We turned to you because we heard that Azhiev was pardoned at your initiative.
— Yes, that is indeed the case. I signed the pardon. Azhiev's mother reached out to me. I don’t know how she found my number on WhatsApp, but she sent me a video message.
In her message, she said: “My daughter-in-law has four children, one of whom is disabled. We are going through hard times. I ask you to show nobility and free my son. I assure you that he will behave decently.”
I felt compassion and thought it was worth helping. That day, I pardoned not only Azhiev but also 75 other convicts who committed less serious crimes.
However, shortly after that, I was informed that Azhiev flew out by helicopter. I immediately ordered the helicopter to land and return.
Ultimately, Azhiev went home by car. The rumors about his helicopter flight turned out to be true, but within 15 minutes we returned the helicopter back to the departure point.
Some blame this on the Ministry of Emergency Situations, but it is not their fault.
Helicopters are used not only for emergencies but also for commercial flights. Emergencies do not happen every day.
Therefore, we allowed the use of helicopters for commercial orders so that they could cover their costs. Anyone who pays for the service can use this transport.
It is important to emphasize that no one has the right to order a helicopter for the transportation of convicts. The applications only specify the departure point, destination, flight time, and number of passengers.
Therefore, accusations against the ministry are unfounded. If someone wants to use helicopter services — please, pay and fly.
As for Azhiev, I was also shocked by this news. His mother stated that they “have become completely impoverished”, while her son is renting a helicopter to escape from prison. I thought: “So, I was simply deceived.”
Many people abuse my kindness. But this cannot continue for long. When kind people become strict, it can have serious consequences.
— There is also the question: why does the president not release the poet Askat Zhetigen, who is in prison, but shows mercy to a person engaged in dubious business?
— I do not choose whom to pardon and whom not to. Decisions are made based on the applications for pardon received. If a convict submits a petition, we consider it. However, how can we free a person who has not made a request? If he submits an application, we are ready to consider it.
— It has also become known that you instructed to withdraw the Ministry of Internal Affairs' bill on testing drivers for knowledge of traffic rules at the site of the violation. The public reacted positively to this news. Does this mean that the initiative is canceled, or can it be implemented in another form?
— This initiative was proposed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It involved checking the knowledge of traffic rules among offenders.
If a driver does not know the rules, they were supposed to confiscate the driver's license and send them for a retest.
The method is correct, but in my opinion, it is still too early for its implementation. First and foremost, it is necessary to prepare the traffic police staff. There are cases when some of them are not fully aware of the traffic rules themselves.
When the traffic police are ready, we can return to this issue.
The main goal of this measure is to reduce the number of traffic accidents.
I always emphasize: in the past, many bought driver's licenses without training, which led to an increase in accidents, and our citizens often got into traffic accidents.
This is one way to address the problem. Our people often talk about “lustration” and the need to carry it out. So, this measure also relates to a kind of lustration.
We have already been conducting “lustration” in state structures for five years and have practically completed it at high levels. Now it can be conducted in other areas as well.
How else can “lustration” be carried out in this area? If we turn a blind eye to violations of traffic rules, the number of accidents will only increase.
People will continue to die. The number of disabled individuals will increase. Therefore, this topic needs serious attention.
Now the purchase of driver's licenses will be 99% impossible. The state has taken this issue under control. Drivers who previously acquired licenses without training need to be taught to follow the rules.
Only then will the roads of Kyrgyzstan become safer.
The record of Sadyr Japarov's comments on the pardon of Daniil Azhiev and the helicopter situation first appeared on K-News.
