Crossroads Asia

Kyrgyzstan Reacts to Bombshell Investigative Report, Taking to the Snowy Streets

Recent Features

Crossroads Asia | Society | Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan Reacts to Bombshell Investigative Report, Taking to the Snowy Streets

A bombshell investigative report mobilized people to protest corruption and demand reform in Bishkek. 

Kyrgyzstan Reacts to Bombshell Investigative Report, Taking to the Snowy Streets
Credit: Twitter

On November 25, a crowd of 1200 people gathered in central Bishkek to give their government a “yellow card,” which referees use in soccer matches to warn players who misbehave. 

The impetus for the protest was last week’s release of an investigation revealing massive state capture and money laundering on an unimaginable scale. The report, published by RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz service and Bishkek-based news platform Kloop with support from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) on November 21, expanded on allegations about Kyrgyz customs service officials’ role in smuggling operations. Aierken Saimati, who provided the journalists with documents and description of his role in a $700 million dollar money-laundering scheme, was murdered in Istanbul on November 10

[...]
Dreaming of a career in the Asia-Pacific?
Try The Diplomat's jobs board.
Find your Asia-Pacific job