On the same day, by presidential decree, the Border Service was removed from the GKNB, and the 9th service, responsible for the protection of high-ranking officials, became a separate structure directly subordinate to the president. This significant reduction in the powers of the GKNB marked the beginning of the anticipated reform, within which the special services will focus on counterintelligence, intelligence, and combating extremism and terrorism.
Edil Baisalov noted that this event was an unexpected conclusion to a certain stage in political history.
Kaktus.media recalls the transformations of the GKNB under Kamchybek Tashiev's leadership.
GKNB: A Key Structure
Kamchybek Tashiev took the position of chairman of the State National Security Committee on October 16, 2020. Since then, the GKNB has become the main power structure in the country, significantly increasing its influence.In November 2020, the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan was placed under the control of the GKNB. This decision was justified by the need to combat smuggling and the threat of infiltrating armed groups, as well as the illegal importation of drugs and weapons.
In March 2021, the State Economic Security Service was abolished, and its powers also transferred to the GKNB.
One of the last initiatives of the GKNB under Tashiev was a bill on reforming the system of special ranks in the tax and customs services and the prosecutor's office. Employees of these agencies were prohibited from wearing uniforms with epaulettes and receiving paramilitary ranks, except for law enforcement agencies. This issue was considered on February 10 by the deputies of the relevant committee of the Jogorku Kenesh at Tashiev's request in an extraordinary session.
At the same time, many state structures strengthened their internal security departments, and former GKNB employees began to occupy leadership positions in civilian agencies. A striking example is Kanibek Dosmabetov, the former head of the GKNB department for the Jalal-Abad region, who became the Minister of Health.
Tashiev himself repeatedly emphasized that by 2020, the committee was in decline, and its employees in the regions lived in corners of old libraries and cultural houses. He also pointed to the demoralization and corruption of personnel, noting that some employees were passing information to organized criminal groups. Under his leadership, the construction of new buildings for district GKNB offices began across the country, as well as the establishment of housing for special service employees, kindergartens, and camps.
Combating Organized Crime
The fight against organized crime became one of the central areas of the GKNB's work. Tashiev stated that organized criminal groups in Kyrgyzstan acted almost like a second power with their own hierarchy and influence.A decisive start to this fight can be attributed to the special operation on October 3, 2023, which resulted in the elimination of the criminal authority Kamchy Kolbaev.
This was followed by a wave of arrests across the country. In his statements, Tashiev repeatedly emphasized that there would be no organized criminal groups in Kyrgyzstan anymore, and his words "we will identify them" and "respected bandits" became memes.
"I personally lead the fight against organized crime. Behind me are the national security agencies, law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor's office, and the court. Together we will dismantle organized crime," Tashiev stated.
This fight also affected the business sector. Dozens of businessmen were arrested on suspicion of financing criminal groups. The scale of the arrests caused fear among small businesses regarding attracting the attention of the special services. Entrepreneurs also complained about unjustified inspections and pressure from government agencies. Tashiev acknowledged this problem, promising that from January 1, unjustified inspections of honest entrepreneurs would cease.
"Kusturization"
After the rise to power of Sadyr Japarov, a decisive fight against corruption was announced, starting with arrests and high-profile criminal cases against officials. However, it soon became clear that this did not always lead to real sentences. In many cases, defendants were offered to compensate for damages in exchange for a reduction in punishment, which became known among the people as "kusturization."According to Tashiev, over five years, the state recovered property and financial assets worth more than 300 billion soms, as well as over a thousand enterprises and more than 30,000 hectares of land.
In 2024, at the initiative of the GKNB, a law was passed that introduces mandatory real prison sentences and a lifetime ban on public service for those accused of corruption and their relatives.
GKNB: A Universal Structure
Although formally the powers of the GKNB were not expanded at the legislative level, in practice, the state committee began to deal with issues that previously fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other services. This work was carried out at the personal instruction of the chairman.Combating Prostitution
In November 2023, at the opening of the new GKNB building, Kamchybek Tashiev raised the issue of prostitution in the country."If we don't raise this issue, then who will? It turns out that when people like us talk about it, society starts to listen. Recently, the behavior of girls, especially students, has worsened significantly. They come to Bishkek for studies and start engaging in prostitution," Tashiev said, instructing his staff to begin the fight against brothels.
Immediately after this, operations began across the country to identify networks of brothels masquerading as massage parlors and saunas. However, the methods used by the GKNB caused dissatisfaction among human rights defenders, as the personal data of women became public.
One of the most high-profile cases was the detention of 137 sex workers on November 27, 2023, about which the GKNB issued a press release with photographs and personal data. The GKNB explained this as "preventive measures."
The Medical Sector
In 2023, the GKNB began inspections of dental clinics, uncovering violations of tax obligations and sanitary standards. Of the 122 clinics in the Jalal-Abad region, serious violations were found in 78. Employees of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Service were detained on suspicion of corruption.Inspections also extended to beauty salons and beauty clinics, where low-quality and smuggled products were used.
"This could threaten the gene pool of the nation, as most young Kyrgyz women use the services of cosmetologists," the GKNB noted.
Education
The GKNB also began to uncover corruption in the education sector. For instance, directors of several schools were detained for taking bribes during the enrollment of children in the first grade. Last year, the state committee checked electronic school registrations, revealing fictitious enrollments. The Ministry of Education even warned parents that enrollment in the first grades was monitored by the GKNB.Under the influence of the GKNB, the plan for transitioning to 12-year education was also changed. Initially, it was planned that in the 2025/26 academic year, children would be enrolled simultaneously in the first and second grades, as well as transition through grades. However, after parents expressed outrage, Tashiev showed interest in school reforms, and after his intervention, the Ministry of Education changed the plan.
Universities also did not escape the GKNB's attention. After inspections, several university leaders were removed from their positions, and thousands of students were expelled. Tashiev also warned students about penalties for not attending classes.
Food Security
Although food security issues formally fall under the purview of specialized services, the GKNB also began to actively engage in these matters. In July 2025, it uncovered expired products in the "Korzinka" store, where expired sauces and delicacies had been sold as fresh for five to six years. To complete the investigation, GKNB employees conducted the disposal of the goods.Issues related to rising food prices were also under Tashiev's control.
Combating Domestic Violence
Although the fight against domestic violence is the responsibility of the police and social services, at Tashiev's instruction, the GKNB actively engaged in this problem. He urged women who had suffered from violence to contact the GKNB and took control of some high-profile cases.Energy Policy
In November 2025, amid an energy crisis, Tashiev instructed local authorities and law enforcement agencies to prohibit cafes and restaurants from operating after 10:00 PM, and in case of violations, to disconnect them from electricity. Although the GKNB did not officially deal with this, Tashiev's personal demand yielded results. The mayors of major cities began to impose restrictions. Also, according to him, a ban on the activities of mining farms was introduced until spring 2026.Pressure on Civil Society
With the increasing influence of the GKNB, pressure on the civil sector also grew. Journalists and activists began to report more frequently about being summoned for questioning and detentions. Ordinary citizens, who actively shared their opinions on social media, also felt the pressure. For example, the administrator of the popular Instagram account "Babsky Blog" was summoned for questioning after posting about the consequences of the ban on cafes operating after 10:00 PM.Businessmen, politicians, and public figures reduced their visibility to avoid attracting the GKNB's attention.
Thus, over five years, the GKNB transformed from a special service into a universal body, controlling almost all spheres of life in the country—from combating organized crime and corruption to monitoring prices and the education system.
