Kyrgyzstan Tashiev coup trial opens briefly, then re-closed to public
The trial of former Kyrgyz security chief Kamchybek Tashiev and co-defendants, accused of plotting a violent coup via the 'Letter of 75,' was declassified and opened on June 15 but re-closed on June 22 to protect secret witnesses. During the brief public hearings, Tashiev clashed with a witness and leaked interrogation videos surfaced. Defendants include former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev and former Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu.
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Kyrgyz Ex-Security Chief Tashiev Gets Probation for Coup Plot While Critics Face Jail
Kamchybek Tashiev, former head of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security, was convicted of plotting a coup (the 'Letter of 75' case) but received a four-year suspended sentence with three years of supervised probation, avoiding any jail time. The judge cited the crime being 'preparation' rather than completion and the defendants' rehabilitation potential. The trial was initially closed, briefly opened, then re-classified after Tashiev shouted down a witness. The article contrasts Tashiev's lenient treatment with the imprisonment or exile of journalists and musicians who reported on his family's corruption. It highlights the political context, including the broken alliance between President Japarov and Tashiev, and Kyrgyzstan's history of revolutions. The analysis criticizes the selective application of justice in Kyrgyzstan.
The DiplomatKyrgyz Ex-Security Chief Tashiev Gets Probation for Coup Plot While Journalists Remain Jailed
Kamchybek Tashiev, former head of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security, was convicted of plotting a coup in the 'Letter of 75' case but received a four-year suspended sentence with three years of supervised probation, avoiding any jail time. The judge justified the leniency by citing the crime was incomplete and the defendants' potential for rehabilitation. The trial was initially closed to the public and later re-classified after Tashiev shouted down a witness. The article contrasts Tashiev's freedom—he was seen attending a football match—with the imprisonment or exile of Kyrgyz journalists and musicians who reported on his family's corruption. The case stems from a letter signed by 75 public figures urging President Sadyr Japarov to call early elections, which framed Tashiev favorably and led to his dismissal. The analysis highlights the perceived double standard in Kyrgyz justice and politics.
The DiplomatKyrgyz Ex-Security Chief Tashiev Gets Probation for Coup Plot; Critics Decry Unequal Justice
Kamchybek Tashiev, former head of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security, was convicted on July 2, 2025, of plotting a coup (Article 326) in the 'Letter of 75' case, alongside former Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu and others. Despite a four-year prison sentence, a judge replaced it with three years of supervised probation, citing the crime was incomplete and the defendants' rehabilitation potential. Tashiev, who served no detention, was seen at a football match the day after the verdict. The article contrasts his lenient treatment with the imprisonment or exile of journalists and musicians who reported on his family's corruption, highlighting perceived political bias in Kyrgyzstan's justice system. The case stems from a letter urging early presidential elections that favorably mentioned Tashiev, leading to his dismissal in February 2025. The analysis notes the broken political alliance between Tashiev and President Sadyr Japarov, with implications for Japarov's 2027 re-election bid.
The DiplomatKyrgyzstan's Tashiev Trial Re-Closed to Public After Brief Transparency
The trial of former Kyrgyz security chief Kamchybek Tashiev and other high-profile defendants has been closed to the public again, just a week after being opened at their request. The case involves charges of coup plotting and abuse of office related to the 'Letter of 75.' During the brief open period, Tashiev shouted at a witness during a hearing, and a video of his interrogation was leaked. On June 22, prosecutors successfully moved to close the trial again, citing the need to protect 'secret witnesses.' Defendants Tashiev, Turgunbek uulu, Uzakbaev, and Zulushev supported the closure request. Kursan Asanov objected and was removed from the courtroom, highlighting perceived inconsistencies in courtroom discipline. The judge had previously criticized journalists for their behavior after the open hearing.
The DiplomatTashiev Trial in Kyrgyzstan Closed to Public Again After Heated Hearings
A week after being opened to the public at the request of the defendants, the trial of former Kyrgyz security chief Kamchybek Tashiev and other high-profile figures has been closed again. The defendants, including former Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu and former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev, are charged with plotting a coup and abuse of office in connection with the so-called 'Letter of 75.' During the brief public period, Tashiev engaged in a shouting match with a witness, and a video of his apparent interrogation leaked. Prosecutors successfully moved to close the trial, citing the need to protect secret witnesses. One defendant, Kursan Asanov, objected and was removed from the courtroom. The case highlights tensions between transparency and security in Kyrgyzstan's legal system.
The DiplomatTashiev Trial Closed Again Amid Shouting Match and Leaked Video
The trial of former Kyrgyz security chief Kamchybek Tashiev and other high-profile politicians, charged with plotting a coup and abuse of office in connection with the 'Letter of 75,' has been closed to the public again after only a week of openness. The case, initially classified, was opened on June 15 at the defendants' request. During the public hearing, Tashiev shouted at a witness and brought up her father's murder. A video of Tashiev's interrogation then leaked. On June 22, prosecutors moved to close the trial, citing 'secret witnesses.' Tashiev, along with several other defendants, supported the closure. Defendant Asanov objected and was removed from the courtroom. Critics note the judge's reprimand of journalists and the contrast in treatment between Tashiev's outburst and Asanov's removal.
The DiplomatTashiev Trial Proceeds Publicly in Kyrgyzstan Amid Leaked Videos and Courtroom Clash
The trial of former Kyrgyz security chief Kamchybek Tashiev and several co-defendants, linked to the 'Letter of 75' coup plot allegations, was declassified on June 15 and is now proceeding publicly. The first open hearings featured a verbal argument between Tashiev and a witness, MP Elvira Surabaldieva, who testified that she viewed the letter as an attempted coup. Tashiev invoked the murder of her father, leading to a heated exchange. The following day, videos allegedly showing Tashiev's interrogation were leaked online. The defendants face charges of violent seizure of power and abuse of office. Among the accused are former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev and former Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu. The trial, initially secret, was opened at the defendants' request. Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the leaked videos but dismissed claims of a smear campaign.
The DiplomatTashiev Trial Proceeds in Kyrgyzstan After Declassification
The trial of Kamchybek Tashiev, former head of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security, and several co-defendants has been declassified and is now public. The defendants, including former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev and former Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, are charged with attempting a violent seizure of power and abuse of office, linked to the 'Letter of 75' that called for early presidential elections. The first open hearings featured a verbal clash between Tashiev and witness MP Elvira Surabaldieva, who called the letter a coup attempt. Tashiev invoked her father's 2005 murder, leading to heated exchanges. Subsequently, suspected interrogation videos of Tashiev were leaked online. Authorities have not confirmed the videos' authenticity but dismissed claims of a smear campaign, citing the defendants' demand for transparency. The trial, which began in secret in May, continues amid political tensions.
The DiplomatTashiev Trial Proceeds in Kyrgyzstan with Open Hearings and Leaked Videos
The trial of former Kyrgyz security chief Kamchybek Tashiev and several co-defendants, accused of plotting a coup linked to the 'Letter of 75,' has been declassified and is proceeding publicly. The first open hearings featured a verbal argument between Tashiev and a witness, MP Elvira Surabaldieva, who testified that the letter constituted an attempted coup. Tashiev invoked the murder of her father, leading to a heated exchange. The following day, videos allegedly showing Tashiev's interrogation were leaked online. The defendants face charges under Articles 326 and 337 of the Kyrgyz Criminal Code. Among the defendants are former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev and former Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu. The trial was initially secret but opened on June 15 at the defendants' request.
The Diplomat