Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree appointing Zhumgalbek Shabdanbekov as Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, marking a key leadership change in the country’s security structure.

Shabdanbekov’s candidacy was previously approved by deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament), paving the way for his official appointment, The Caspian Post reports via Russian media.

Born in 1970 in the village of Chaek in the Jumgal district of the Naryn region, Shabdanbekov graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Kyrgyz National University in 1991. He began his professional career in the Tax Service of the Talas region, serving as an inspector and later as a senior inspector.

Since 1994, he has worked within the national security bodies, holding various positions in the State Protection Service, the Anti-Terrorism Center of the State Committee for National Security, counterintelligence units, and the Anti-Corruption Service. In October 2020, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for National Security and head of its 9th Service. In 2022, he was awarded the rank of Major General.

In February 2026, he was named Acting Head of the State Committee for National Security by presidential decree, and now officially assumes the role.

The appointment follows the dismissal of Kamchybek Tashiev, who was relieved of his duties as Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the State Committee for National Security on February 10.