On the same day, the president issued a decree to withdraw the Border Service from the GKNB, and the 9th service, responsible for the protection of high-ranking officials, was transformed into a separate agency under the president's authority. As a result, the GKNB, which had many key functions, sharply reduced its powers. Sources within the security forces report that this is just the beginning - significant reforms are expected for the GKNB. It is anticipated that the special services will focus on counterintelligence, intelligence activities, as well as combating extremism and terrorism.
Edil Baisalov emphasized that a certain stage in political history ended unexpectedly for everyone.
Kaktus.media examines the changes in the GKNB under Kamchybek Tashiev's leadership.
GKNB as a Central Structure
Kamchybek Tashiev became the head of the State Committee for National Security on October 16, 2020. Since then, over more than five years, the committee has become the leading power structure in the country, significantly increasing its influence.As early as November 2020, the State Border Service of the Kyrgyz Republic was transferred to the GKNB's authority. This decision was explained by the presidential administration as a necessity to strengthen the fight against smuggling and the threat of infiltration by armed groups, as well as the illegal importation of drugs and weapons.
In March 2021, the GKNB also took on the functions of the abolished State Service for Economic Security.
One of the last initiatives of the GKNB under Tashiev concerned a draft law on reforming the system of special ranks in the tax service, prosecutor's office, and customs, which prohibited employees of these agencies from wearing uniforms with epaulettes and receiving paramilitary ranks, leaving this only for law enforcement agencies. Interestingly, this very issue was considered by deputies of the relevant committee of the Jogorku Kenesh on February 10 at Tashiev's request.
At the same time, various state structures began to strengthen their internal security departments, and former GKNB employees started to occupy key positions in civilian agencies. An example is Kanibek Dosmabetov, the former head of the GKNB department for the Jalal-Abad region, who was appointed Minister of Health.
Tashiev himself repeatedly emphasized that by 2020, the committee was in decline, and its employees in the regions were crammed into the corners of old libraries and cultural centers. He also noted that employees were demoralized and corrupt, and even among them were those who leaked information about organized criminal groups. Under his leadership, new buildings for district GKNB offices, as well as housing for security service employees, kindergartens, and camps began to be actively constructed throughout the country.
Combating Organized Crime
One of the priority areas of the GKNB's work became the fight against organized crime. Tashiev claimed that organized criminal groups in Kyrgyzstan effectively acted as a second power with their own hierarchy and influence in the regions.The special operation on October 3, 2023, became a decisive step in this fight when the criminal authority Kamchy Kolbaev was eliminated.
After that, a wave of arrests swept across the country. Tashiev repeatedly emphasized that there should be no organized criminal groups in Kyrgyzstan, and his phrases "we will identify them" and "respected bandits" became memes.
"I personally lead the fight against organized crime. I have the support of national security agencies, law enforcement, the prosecutor's office, and the court. Together we will crush organized crime," Tashiev stated.
This fight also affected the business sector. Dozens of large businessmen were detained on suspicion of financing criminal groups. The scale of the arrests was such that even medium-level entrepreneurs began to fear the attention of the special services. Moreover, entrepreneurs complained about unreasonable inspections and pressure from government agencies, which worsened the conditions for doing business. Tashiev acknowledged this problem and stated that from January 1, unreasonable inspections of honest entrepreneurs would cease.
Corruption and "Kusturization"
Sadyr Japarov, upon taking office, promised an unwavering fight against corruption. Arrests in the act began, along with high-profile criminal cases and the arrest of officials. However, it soon became clear that this did not always result in real sentences. In many cases, suspects were offered to return money or property to the state in exchange for leniency. This mechanism was dubbed "kusturization."According to Tashiev, over five years, the state recovered property and financial assets worth more than 300 billion soms, as well as over a thousand enterprises and other facilities, and more than 30 thousand hectares of land.
In 2024, at the initiative of the GKNB, a law was adopted that imposes mandatory real prison sentences and a lifetime ban on public service for those accused of corruption and their relatives.
GKNB: A Universal Agency
Although the GKNB's powers have formally changed little at the legislative level, in practice, the committee began to address issues that previously fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, local authorities, and even sanitary services. This work was carried out at the personal direction of the chairman.Combating Prostitution
In November 2023, during the opening of a new GKNB building, Kamchybek Tashiev addressed the issue of prostitution in the country."If we don't talk about it, then who will? It turns out that when people like us raise such topics, the public listens. The behavior of girls, especially students, has deteriorated. They come to Bishkek to study, bring their parents' money, and start engaging in prostitution," Tashiev said, instructing employees to begin the fight against brothels.
Immediately after this, operations began to identify networks of brothels masquerading as massage parlors and saunas, where intimate services were provided. However, the methods used by the GKNB caused dissatisfaction among human rights defenders, as the personal data of women became known to the public.
One of the most resonant cases occurred on November 27, 2023, when the GKNB published a press release about the detention of 137 sex workers. The release included photographs and personal data of some of them. The GKNB explained this as "preventive measures."
Control in Medicine
In 2023, the GKNB conducted inspections of dental clinics. Violations in tax obligations and licensing, as well as in compliance with sanitary norms, were identified. For example, out of 122 clinics in the Jalal-Abad region, serious violations were found in 78. As a result, employees of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Service were detained on suspicion of organizing corruption schemes.Inspections also took place in beauty salons and beauty clinics, where smuggled and low-quality products were identified.
"This could lead to the destruction of the gene pool of the nation, as most young Kyrgyz women use the services of cosmetologists," noted the national security agency.
Corruption in Education
The GKNB began the fight against corruption in education. Directors of several capital schools were detained while receiving bribes for enrolling children in the first grades. Last year, the state committee checked electronic school registrations, identifying cases of fictitious enrollments. The Ministry of Education even warned parents and school directors that enrollment in the first grades was under the control of the GKNB.At the initiative of the GKNB, the plan for transitioning to 12-year education was also revised. Initially, it was planned that in the 2025/26 academic year, enrollment in the first and second grades would occur simultaneously, along with the transition of students through grades. However, after parental dissatisfaction, Kamchybek Tashiev also showed interest in school reforms, and the plan was changed.
Universities also did not escape the GKNB's attention. After inspections, several university leaders were suspended from their positions, and thousands of students were expelled. Tashiev also threatened students with punishment for not attending classes.
Food Security
Although food security issues formally fall under the jurisdiction of relevant services, the GKNB also began to actively intervene in these matters. In July 2025, the committee identified expired products in the "Korzinka" store. The special services established that the company had been selling expired sauces and seafood for several years, passing them off as fresh. To conclude the case, GKNB employees even conducted the disposal of the goods.Under Tashiev's control were also issues related to price increases for flour, meat, and other products.
Domestic Violence
Although the fight against domestic violence falls under the jurisdiction of the police and social services, at Tashiev's instruction, the GKNB actively engaged in this problem. He urged women who had suffered from violence to contact the GKNB and took control of several high-profile cases.Energy Crisis
In November 2025, amid the energy crisis, Tashiev instructed local and law enforcement agencies to prohibit cafes and restaurants from operating after 10:00 PM and to disconnect them from electricity in case of violations. Although the GKNB was not officially involved in this issue, Tashiev's personal demand yielded results. The mayors of Bishkek, Osh, and other cities began to implement restrictions. Additionally, according to him, a ban on the operation of mining farms was introduced in Kyrgyzstan until spring 2026.Pressure on Civil Society
Against the backdrop of the increasing influence of the GKNB, pressure on the civil sector intensified. Journalists, human rights defenders, and activists began to report more frequently about summons for conversations, detentions, and searches. Even ordinary citizens who actively used social networks to express opinions began to feel pressure from the special services. For example, the administrator of the popular Instagram account "Babsky Blog" was summoned for a conversation by the state committee after posting that restrictions on the operation of cafes and restaurants after 10:00 PM would affect restaurant workers.Businessmen, politicians, and public figures began to avoid publicity, not wanting to attract the attention of the GKNB.
Thus, over five years, the GKNB transformed from a specialized service into a universal agency controlling all spheres - from combating organized crime and corruption to overseeing prices and the process of enrolling first-graders.
