Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov says that by his decision to dismiss Kamchybek Tashiev from the posts of a Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of the State Committee for National Security, he saved his friend and prevented a split in the country.
On February 10, Japarov unexpectedly dismissed Tashiev—his political partner and close friend—from both government posts.
This came after 75 public figures and former officials sent a letter to the president and the parliament speaker asking them to immediately initiate early presidential elections. The authors of the letter believe that the incumbent President was elected early in 2021 under the old Constitution, and after its amendment in April 2021, disagreements have arisen over the legal interpretation of the presidential term’s length.
In an interview with the Kabar news agency on February 13, Japarov said that the process of division began in the parliament. Certain parliamentary groups began asking members of parliament: “Are you on our side or on that side?” Those MPs who inquired about “our side” and “the other side” were told, “Our side is the general’s [Tashiev’s] side, and the other side is the president’s side.”
According to Japarov, using Tashiev’s name as a cover, they began approaching members of parliament, civil servants, and prominent figures with the words, “Come over to the general’s side.”
“If I had not dismissed Kamchybek Tashiev, it could have led to a rift among government officials and in society, as well as possible confrontations. That is why I had to make the decision to dismiss my friend. Stability in the state is paramount to me,” Japarov said.
Japarov emphasized that before making his decision, he called Tashiev and explained the situation, informing him that he would dismiss him.
Japarov stressed that the interests of the state and the people stand above positions and above friendship, adding that “our friendship with Kamchybek Tashiev will continue.”
