Kyrgyzstan Detains Former Municipal Chief Over Links to Crime Syndicate

Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security has detained a former local official from Nookat District on charges of financing a powerful organized crime group led by Kadyr Dosonov, widely known by his alias “Dzhengo”.

The arrest stems from an ongoing criminal investigation that uncovered long-term financial and operational links between the former official and the criminal network, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

Between 2008 and 2021, the former official, who headed the Mirmakhmudov rural municipality in the Osh Region, routinely provided financial support to Dosonov’s organization. In return, he reportedly received protection and leeway to carry out corrupt schemes.

The investigation has also exposed instances of illegal privatization of state assets, the creation of fictitious entities, and the embezzlement of significant public funds.

The former official is currently being held in pre-trial detention at the State Committee for National Security’s facility, while further investigations are underway to uncover additional offenses and recover misappropriated state property.