Deputy Akim of Shymkent Shot and Wounded

On the evening of April 21, Ruslan Berdenov, Deputy Akim of Shymkent, was shot and wounded in an apparent assassination attempt near the city hall. The incident occurred under unclear circumstances and has sparked widespread public attention and speculation. Preliminary reports indicate that Berdenov was hit three times by a Saiga-12 shotgun. The suspect, who was detained at the scene, was confronted by Berdenov’s driver, who reportedly accelerated the vehicle to subdue the attacker. “The assailant waited near the Akimat and shot at close range when the official exited the building. The driver intervened by striking the shooter with the car,” journalist Mikhail Kozachkov reported on Telegram. Suspect Identified as State Employee According to the Telegram channel Letters to the President, the suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Zhienbai Yernar Zhienbayuly, a specialist at Turgyn Shymkent LLP, which operates under the Akimat. He is reported to be a subordinate of Berdenov. A criminal investigation has been launched under charges of attempted murder. Berdenov sustained gunshot wounds to his right thigh and shoulder. The city’s health department stated that as of the morning of April 22, he had regained consciousness and was in a stable but serious condition. Speculation Over Motives Following the attack, various unverified theories were circulating on social media, with one suggesting the motive was personal jealousy. However, this was publicly denied by Berdenov's business partner, Beibit Alibekov, who described the rumors as fabrications. Alibekov suggested instead that the incident may be linked to Berdenov’s recent anti-corruption efforts in the construction sector. The Akimat also rejected claims that the suspect's wife had been harassed by Berdenov, stating that such allegations “do not correspond to reality.” The Respublica Party, of which Berdenov is a member, urged caution, stating that “any premature assessments can be regarded as interference in the investigation.” The party emphasized its stance that “violence in any form is unacceptable.” Law enforcement agencies have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and all circumstances surrounding the attack are being examined. Ruslan Berdenov was appointed Deputy Akim of Shymkent in February 2025. Before that, he served as a deputy in the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s Parliament, where he worked on the Finance and Budget Committee. A native of Shymkent, Berdenov is 39 years old and fluent in Kazakh, Russian, English, Turkish, and Azeri.

Did Kyrgyzstan’s Security Chief Order an Assassination?

The head of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (GKNB), Kamchybek Tashiyev, has been waging a campaign against organized criminal groups in his country for the last few years and it seems he believes in fighting fire with fire. Speaking to representatives of Kyrgyzstan’s education sector on January 16, Tashiyev referred to the fight against organized crime, specifically mentioning the slain reputed crime boss Kamchybek Kolbayev. “I had to take the decision to liquidate the thief in law,” Tashiyev said, “for the sake of the state. And I made this decision, and we eliminated him.” He quickly regretted such candor after his comments received wide coverage and has revised his version of events leading up to Kolbayev’s killing.   The Gangster Kamchybek Kolbayev, aka Kolya Kyrgyz, was allegedly the kingpin of Kyrgyzstan’s criminal world. The term “thief in law” originated in Soviet prisons among inmates who were high-ranking figures in organized criminal groups. This tradition continued after the fall of the USSR and the “Brothers’ Circle” of top thieves in law connects criminal organizations in former Soviet republics. Kolbayev seemed indeed to be a thief in law and according to the U.S. State Department, he was part of the Brothers’ Circle, and back in 2007 it was said that Kolbayev was the “leader of the most influential criminal group” in Kyrgyzstan. Kolbayev had been imprisoned more than once, though his prison conditions were not harsh. While in prison in late 2020, a video was posted of Kolbayev and other prisoners enjoying a small feast and singing. He seemed untouchable.   The Raid On October 4, 2023, the GKNB’s special Alfa unit raided the Blonder Pub in Bishkek, looking for Kolbayev. Reports from that day said the GKNB intended to detain Kolbayev as a suspect in murder of another criminal figure in July 2022. According to the GKNB, Kolbayev offered armed resistance and was shot dead when the GKNB commandos returned fire. Given the lenient treatment Kolbayev had so often received from Kyrgyz authorities, it seemed strange he chose to open fire on law enforcement officers rather than submit to being gently detained, as he had been before, and possibly incarcerated in luxury prison conditions. However, Kolbayev was an odious figure in Kyrgyzstan, greatly feared by many and the circumstances of his death did not seem to matter to most people, so long as he was gone.   A ‘Hit’? On January 16, Tashiyev explained to deputy education and science ministers, university rectors, and other directors of institutions of higher learning that the organized crime structure in Kyrgyzstan had grown strong and had extended across the country. Tashiyev said the criminal network was preying upon businesses and individuals. “We were forced to take necessary measures,” Tashiyev declared, and then stated he had given the order for Kolbayev to be eliminated. He added that the GKNB’s campaign against organized crime was a success. Kyrgyzstan had become “the only country in Central Asia… and probably in the post-Soviet countries, that does not have...