Kyrgyzstan corruption

Dinara Kutmanova and her son, once at the forefront of the Kumtor nationalization movement, were charged with abuse of office and fraud. They'd been arrested back in 2023.

When he was extradited to Kyrgyzstan earlier this year, Matraimov was alleged to be connected to an opaque assassination plot. He just got off with a fine for hooliganism. 

Banning domestic vape sales while preserving manufacturing for export may simply serve to expand the shadow market and line the pockets of customs officials. 

The Japarov-Tashiev tandem has sunk real roots into Kyrgyzstan’s society, and those roots are deeper and stronger than they might seem on the surface.

Over the last five years, Kyrgyz authorities have repeatedly had their hands on notoriously corrupt former official Raimbek Matraimov and each time let him go. Will this time be different?

Transparency International notes a “troubling picture” in the region as countries struggle with “dysfunctional rule of law, rising authoritarianism, and systemic corruption.”

Bishkek is on the one hand pursuing an anti-corruption campaign, but at the same time cracking down on the very media that expose such corruption.

It appears a purge is underway, as Tashiev decries the corrupt in Kyrgyzstan. 

Connectivity projects are crucial for landlocked Central Asian countries. Yet the railway brings major concerns: a lack of transparency, smuggling risks, and a possible debt trap. 

Kusturizatsia means, literally, “vomiting.” Under the practice, corrupt individuals can repay a fraction of stolen proceeds to the state and then go about their business. Who knows where the money goes?

FC Barcelona visited Kyrgyzstan to inaugurate two new football academies. Japarov is touchy about investigations into how the schools are funded.

Governments in Asia are perceived to be as corrupt as ever.

Kyrgyzstan will finally hold parliamentary elections in late November, more than a year after a botched election spun the country into political turmoil.

Kyrgyz authorities said they were unable to find evidence of Matraimov’s alleged money laundering, despite thousands of words written by investigative journalists outlining it in detail.

Since 2014, the U.S. has offered a $1 million reward to information leading to the disruption of Kolbaev's alleged criminal network. No takers, so far.

Matraimov, who pleaded guilty to corruption earlier this month and got off with a fine, may face new charges.

A week ago, Matraimov pleaded guilty to corruption and was fined $3,000. He may soon face new charges.

Matraimov is alleged to have laundered $700 million out of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek has let him off easy, but Washington has finally taken action.

The former customs official’s arrest was a suspicious surprise, though he’s long been alleged to have engaged in massive corruption in Kyrgyzstan. 

At Kyrgyzstan’s muted independence day celebration, a poet-singer called out government corruption in his performance.

Atambaeyv’s second trial is still in progress, but previous cases against the former president and his ally, Sapar Isakov, were recently upheld.

RFE/RL, OCCRP and Kloop have published two new reports as well as a database filled with documents provided by murdered former money launderer Aierken Saimaiti.

Kyrgyz authorities allege, with the hearsay of a single witness, that journalists involved in a massive investigation of corruption took payment to report.

There’s no shortage of corruption to dig into in Kyrgyzstan, but the pursuit of justice is often directed by politics.