Three former high-ranking Kyrgyz officials have been officially charged in a case related to the so-called «Letter 75,» the 24.KG news agency reported.
What we know
According to lawyer Sherdor Abdykaparov, former head of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) Kamchybek Tashiev, former lawmaker Kurmankul Zulushev and former speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh (Supreme Council) Nurlanbek Shakiyev have been formally charged. The charges are the same as those faced by other defendants in the case: organizing mass riots and actions that investigators classify as an attempted coup.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the news agency reported that all three spent several hours at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where they were questioned. They later left the building, with no details about the charges or the investigation disclosed.
What was the trigger?
In February 2026, media reported that a group of 75 citizens had sent a letter to President Sadyr Japarov and the chairman of the Jogorku Kenesh calling for early presidential elections. As a result, a wave of resignations and criminal cases followed.
Tashiev was removed from his posts as head of the GKNB and deputy prime minister. The security service was later reorganized. Shakiyev resigned as speaker and as a member of parliament, along with Zulushev. Meanwhile, some of the letter’s signatories have already been taken into custody.
According to Japarov, Tashiev denied meeting with the letter’s authors. However, the president said Tashiev is no longer suitable for appointment to government positions. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court confirmed that presidential elections will be held as scheduled in January 2027.
What people in Kyrgyzstan think
Some social media users say the former head of the GKNB could not have planned a coup. They argue that during his six years leading the security service, he had far more opportunities to do so and consistently positioned himself as an ally of Japarov.
Others speculate that the president may have leveraged Tashiev’s political influence while shifting blame for controversial decisions onto him. Some users also believe the security chief’s reputation was damaged by his team’s unchecked actions.
Still others believe the scheme may have been carefully orchestrated through parliament and the letter, making it appear as the will of the people rather than an outright coup. Additional theories circulating online suggest the entire affair was staged to purge the old elite and replace it with a new one.
That said, many acknowledge Tashiev’s achievements during his tenure, particularly in the fight against organized crime.
