At a recent parliamentary session, Kyrgyz MP Elvira Surabaldiyeva called for the resignation of Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov following the arrest of senior officials from the State Tax Service (STS). The arrests stemmed from allegations of a corruption scheme involving electronic invoices that reportedly cost the state 3.2 billion KGS (approximately U$37 million).
Accusations Against the Government
Surabaldiyeva directly accused Japarov and his government of corruption. Addressing the Minister of Economy and Commerce present at the session, she questioned the administration’s inability to curb bribery.
“You collect money from the people, but you cannot eliminate bribery in your country. Why are you surprised that people don’t trust you?” she said. “The Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers has acknowledged that the corruption scheme caused 3.2 billion KGS in damage. This is a colossal amount. At the very least, the Prime Minister should resign, and the head of the tax service should face jail time.”
Government Response
Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov responded to Surabaldiyeva’s claims on social media, defending the government’s record and arguing that tax collections in Kyrgyzstan have nearly tripled over the past five years due to improved governance and administration.
“The people see what their taxes are used for and recognize the state’s development,” Baisalov stated. He added that the era of bribing tax inspectors is over, emphasizing the government’s commitment to a “relentless struggle” against corruption within the state apparatus.
Background on Corruption Arrests
Earlier, Kyrgyz special services arrested three senior tax officials from the STS, accusing them of orchestrating a systematic corruption scheme. The officials face charges under the article “Abuse of official position”.
Despite these measures, the accusations against Japarov’s administration have sparked broader discussions about the government’s ability to effectively combat corruption and restore public trust.
