Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree on March 10 dismissing Emergency Minister Urmatbek Shamykankov from his post. Shamykankov had been appointed to the position in early February, meaning his tenure lasted less than a month.

According to the president's press secretary, Askat Alagozov, the dismissal was prompted by suspicions of bribery during the summer of last year, when Shamykankov served as deputy head of the Emergency Ministry. Official reports indicate that the official demanded money in exchange for promoting one of the ministry's employees.

The employee claims to have transferred half of the agreed sum to Shamykankov's e-wallet but was unable to pay the second part. Subsequently, he was transferred to an Emergency Ministry unit in the Batken region and later filed a complaint with the president. President Japarov instructed the General Prosecutor's Office to investigate the allegations.

The investigation confirmed the facts, and photos of the employee's complaint and a screenshot of a money transfer to Shamykankov for 50,000 soms (approximately $570) were published. It is alleged that the total amount demanded for the promotion was 100,000 soms (around $1,140).

Urmatbek Shamykankov had served as deputy head of the Emergency Ministry for about five years and holds state awards. This incident highlights ongoing challenges in combating corruption and ensuring accountability among high-ranking officials in Kyrgyzstan.

Source: kun.uz