Criminal Responsibility - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kyrgyz Businessman Tashov, Accused of Plot to Seize Power, Attempts Suicide in Court

Imamidin Tashov, a Kyrgyz businessman and owner of the KG Group construction company, reportedly attempted suicide during court proceedings in his high-profile case involving allegations of plotting a violent seizure of power. According to media reports, Tashov attempted to slit his throat, prompting an immediate response from those present. Journalists and relatives were swiftly removed from the courtroom, and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene. Eyewitnesses reported that Tashov was carried out of the courthouse to receive medical attention. However, details about his condition and the specific circumstances of the incident remain unclear at this time. Tashov was detained in April 2024 by SCNS officers after illegally crossing the border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Authorities allege that he was on his way to the town of Kara-Balta to establish a temporary headquarters and mobilize supporters for protests aimed at seizing power. This is not the first time Tashov has engaged in self-harm. Earlier this year, he injured himself in the abdomen, reportedly sustaining two cuts. His lawyer, Samat Matsakov, claimed that these acts were deliberate attempts to attract public attention. The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) similarly described the previous incident as premeditated and aimed at garnering sympathy. Adding to the controversy, Tashov has accused individuals claiming to be SCNS officers of kidnapping him and demanding a ransom of 100 million Kyrgyz soms ($1.15 million). These allegations have further polarized public opinion and drawn widespread attention to his case. On November 29, Tashov’s lawyer Matsakov was arrested on charges of fraud and document forgery, as reported by The Times of Central Asia. The legal troubles surrounding Tashov and his defense team have only added to the public and media interest in the case. The dramatic developments in Tashov’s case reflect the tensions surrounding his high-profile trial. As questions persist about his actions and the broader implications of his allegations, the case continues to attract significant attention across Kyrgyzstan.

Parliament Politics Corruption Court Cases Criminal Responsibility Anti-Corruption Corruption Allegations

Following Corruption Arrests in Kyrgyzstan, MP Calls for PM Japarov to Resign

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.

Court Cases Arrest Prosecutor Criminal Responsibility officials Anti-Corruption

Kyrgyz Authorities Raid State Tax Service Offices

Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (SCNS) conducted searches across four district offices of the State Tax Service (STS), detaining several high-ranking employees on allegations of abuse of office. According to the SCNS, 30 tax officials were apprehended, including three of the four heads of the State Tax Service in Bishkek. These officials were placed in the SCNS pre-trial detention center on charges related to fraudulent shipping invoices. “During the inspection, it was revealed that major manufacturers and importers of excisable goods - such as alcohol and tobacco products - recorded revocations and withdrawals of shipping documents in the relevant accounting databases, despite continuing to supply these products predominantly to southern regions of the country,” the SCNS stated. The investigation showed that in 2024 alone, tax officials failed to address numerous instances of revoked shipping invoices amounting to $3.7 million. This reportedly enabled large manufacturers and importers to evade taxes. A criminal case has been initiated under Article 337 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the abuse of official position. Authorities are working to determine the total financial damage caused to the state. Meanwhile, charges are expected to be brought against the detained district heads of the Bishkek STS offices. A court will decide on appropriate legal remedies as the investigation continues.

Justice Human rights Opposition Court Cases Criminal Responsibility

Tajik MMA Fighter Chorshanbiev, Imprisoned For Criticizing Authorities, Faces New Charges

In Tajikistan, the well known MMA fighter and prominent blogger Chorshanbe Chorshanbiev, already serving an 8.5-year prison sentence, has been handed an additional four years on new charges. Journalist Anora Sarkorova reported the development on November 18, which was later confirmed by sources at Radio Ozodi. Chorshanbiev, known for criticizing Tajik authorities in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region while residing in Russia, was deported to Tajikistan in December 2021. By May 2022, he was convicted of “public calls for violent change of the constitutional order” and sentenced to 8.5 years in prison. Details of the additional sentence remain unclear, but it is speculated to be related to either violations of prison regulations or involvement in a fight. Recently, Chorshanbiev was transferred from a penal colony in Khujand to a pre-trial detention center in Dushanbe. Chorshanbiev’s legal troubles began in December 2021 when he was deported from Russia for traffic violations. Upon his arrival in Dushanbe, he was arrested, and the Tajik prosecutor's office initiated charges against him, alleging incitement of social and national discord and calls to overthrow the state system. However, during the investigation, the first charge was dropped. His trial garnered significant public attention. Prominent athletes in Russia voiced their support for him, and his defense team argued that the case rested on a single piece of evidence: a video recorded in November 2021. In the video, Chorshanbiev commented on violent clashes in Khorog, during which three people were killed and dozens injured. The prosecution claimed his statements amounted to incitement of protests against the government. A political scientist’s analysis, presented during the trial, characterized Chorshanbiev’s remarks as a call for rebellion. However, his lawyers contested this interpretation and requested a re-evaluation of the video. In court, Chorshanbiev maintained that he had no intention of destabilizing the country. Despite the divided expert opinion, Chorshanbiev was convicted, and his case continues to provoke debate.

Justice Court Cases Bishimbayev Ablyazov Khrapunov Criminal Responsibility Dzhakishev Kazhegeldin Crime Corruption Rule of law

In the Wake of Bishimbayev: From Politicians to Felons – Part One

Eight days ago, a scandal shook Kazakhstani society: Kuandyk Bishimbayev allegedly escaped from the penal colony where he was serving his sentence. Bishimbayev is a former high-ranking official of the government of Nursultan Nazarbayev's era, who was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the brutal murder of his wife. The Interior Ministry's Criminal Correctional System Committee immediately denied this information and said that a criminal case had been opened over the dissemination of this misinformation. This is not the first time Bishimbayev has become a resident of a penal colony. In 2017, as the Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, he was arrested on suspicion of large-scale bribery and embezzlement. In 2018, he was sentenced to a ten-year term with the confiscation of property and deprivation of the right to hold public office for the rest of his life. However, he was released on parole in 2019. Kazakhstan has been shaken by Bishimbayev's new crime. The trial, which was broadcast live online for the first time in the country's history, was watched by millions of citizens, not only within the Republic, but also abroad in other post-Soviet countries, and even in the West. However, this is not the first and, in all likelihood, not the last sensational case in which a former high-ranking official becomes a defendant. The long list of convicted ministers and akims can be divided chronologically into three parts: the Nazarbayev era, the transition period, and the so-called “New Kazakhstan,” which started after the January Events - the failed coup in 2022. This article discusses the most notorious court cases from each of these periods. Akezhan Kazhegeldin Former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin was a politician known not only in Kazakhstan, but also in the West. He led the Government of Kazakhstan from 1994 to 1997. After falling into disfavor, in 1998 he attempted to challenge Nazarbayev in the upcoming presidential election. Kazhegeldin was not allowed to participate and had to leave Kazakhstan under the pretense of receiving medical treatment in Switzerland for unspecified health problems. In 1999, Kazhegeldin was put on an international wanted list, and in 2001 he was found guilty in absentia by the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan of abuse of power and authority, extortion and repeated bribes of millions of dollars, illegal acquisitions, the storage and transfer of weapons and ammunition, and tax evasion. Kazhegeldin was sentenced to ten years in prison, but has not returned to the country since. He continued to influence Kazakhstan's domestic politics from abroad until 2001 through the Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan, which he organized for this purpose. It was alleged that Kazhegeldin received kickbacks from a contract awarded to Tractebel in 1996 to run Almaty's electric company and power grid. A year later, the Belgian company also won a concession to manage gas pipelines in the south and west of Kazakhstan. In the U.S., meanwhile, the DOJ investigated claims Kazhegeldin received illegal payments of $6 million as part of a bribery scandal known as ‘Kazakhgate’....

Education Russia Children Legislation Criminal Responsibility

GTA and Counter-Strike Banned in Tajikistan

Residents of Tajikistan have been ordered to refrain from playing popular computer games such as Grand Theft Auto and Counter-Strike, and owners of computer game clubs have been banned from distributing them. According to information published by the Dushanbe police press service on Telegram, these games can influence young people and make them more prone to criminal behavior. “According to the results of the historical and cultural expertise of the Tajik Ministry of Culture, the games Counter-Strike and Grand Theft Auto contain scenes of violence, murder, and robbery,” police said. Game club owners and parents of children were told to comply with national laws prohibiting violent and unethical video games, and said raids would be conducted at game clubs to detect violations. A similar initiative has been discussed in Russia. In 2022, the State Duma proposed banning video games containing violent scenes, pornography, and profanity. Counter-Strike is a multiplayer shooter in which teams of special forces and terrorists perform missions to rescue hostages, clear bombs, or protect VIPs. Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is an adventure game in which the player performs missions in fictional American cities, participating in criminal activities, driving vehicles, and committing robberies to advance the story.