Kyrgyz president relieves four ministers of their duties

BISHKEK. Oct 3 (Interfax) - Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed decrees on Monday to relieve four ministers of their duties, the presidential press service said.

Among the latest resignations are Energy Minister Doskul Bekmurzayev and Education Minister Almazbek Beishenaliyev, who are currently under investigation.

The president also relieved Azamat Jamanlukov of his duties as Kyrgyz minister of culture, information, sports and youth policy, and Erkinbek Osoyev of his duties as minister of transport and communications.

Japarov has already appointed the new acting ministers, the press service said.

"President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree to appoint Taalaibek Ibrayev as acting energy minister," the press service said.

Ulanbek Mambetakunov became the acting minister of education and science, Altynbek Maksutov the acting minister of culture, information, sports and youth policy, and Tilek Tekebayev the acting minister of transport and communications.

The acting ministers will be suggested to the country's parliament as candidates for these ministerial posts.

As reported earlier, the Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office in September opened two criminal cases against then Energy Minister Bekmurzayev on abuse of office charges.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, Bekmurzayev exceeded his authority in 2021-2022 sending his employees on state-budget-funded official trips to the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Russia, thus causing financial damage to Kyrgyzstan. Furthermore, the country lost another $180,000 during a Bekmurzayev-supervised renovation of the Warm Spring Well spa resort, which has temporarily been used by JSC Power Stations.

After the investigation began, Ibrayev, who previously held the post of deputy energy minister, was appointed the acting energy minister.

Osoyev, who had been working in different divisions of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for many years, was appointed the minister of transport and communications in August 2021.

Tekebayev earlier held the post of director of the State Environmental and Technical Safety Inspectorate's interregional branch for the cities of Cholpon-Ata and Balykchy and for the Issyk-Kul and Tong districts of Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul region.