"The prestige of the state security service should be the same as that of the former USSR KGB" - Sadyr Japarov

In an interview with the "Kabar" news agency, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said that a number of changes are being prepared to reform the security forces. "Kabar" director Mederbek Shermetaliev first asked the president about the status of the State Committee for National Security. According to the journalist, the special service has been heavily criticized lately. There have been talks about employees carrying their service IDs everywhere and tarnishing the name of the "chekist". In response to the question, Japarov stated that he was aware of these issues.

 

"Of course, I have information. I have warned my friend about this several times. 'My friend, raise the prestige of the State Security Service. It should have the same prestige as the former USSR KGB. Otherwise, people are encountering situations where they show their personal IDs to 'prisoners' and call them 'State Security Service employees'. Let's get rid of such criticism', I have said many times."

 

Shermetaliev also addressed Japarov with questions about the arrest of some committee employees and the future of the special service. 

 

Shermetaliev:

-  We see that some employees of the State Security Committee are being arrested on suspicion of violating the law and committing crimes. Isn't this because they have been given very broad powers? After all, we have seen the special services fighting against violations in almost all areas, such as construction, meat prices, and even in the field of intimate services, haven't we?

 

Japarov:

-  On the very day they published the video about the 'fight against those providing intimate services', I called them and said: 'My friend, give this area to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it's their job. Don't lower the level of the State Committee for National Security.' As for employees involved in corruption, investigations are currently underway. Information about them cannot be disclosed.

 

Shermetaliev:

-  Recently, you separated the Border Service and the Security Service from the State Security Committee. Please tell us in more detail about the future reform of the State Security Committee. In which areas will it operate? Will the task of combating economic crimes and corruption remain or be transferred to another agency?

 

Japarov:

-  A major reform in the security forces is approaching. I had planned to start this reform much earlier. However, it was postponed for various reasons. The State Security Committee deals with its own activities: intelligence, counterintelligence, protection of the constitutional order, combating terrorism, extremism, banditry, drug trafficking, and other types of activities. They will retain their investigative powers in these areas. But they will not interfere in the economy. No one should know what the State Committee for National Security is doing or who its employees are. After the reform, it will be a real special service like the former KGB.

 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs will also deal only with tasks directly related to them. The ministry will retain its investigative rights in its own field. Of course, a list will be compiled and who is granted which rights will be confirmed by law.

 

A new Investigative Committee will be established. All investigative work will be transferred to them. The General Prosecutor's Office and the Military Prosecutor's Office will monitor that legal proceedings are initiated against everyone.

 

During the conversation, Sadyr Japarov also answered the question about why an Investigative Committee is being established. According to the head of state, both the State Committee for National Security and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have operational-search activities and investigators.

 

"Everything is controlled by one minister. For example, an 'operative' is working and the case is unjust, for instance, someone is being arrested on a 'pretext'.

 

When the case is handed over to the investigator, the investigator refuses to accept it and says 'this case will not be considered in court'. Then the minister calls the investigator and orders him to 'accept it and initiate a criminal case'. The investigator has no choice but to initiate a criminal case.

 

So, there are currently no facts of injustice lying around. The Investigative Committee, however, will be directly subordinate to the president. It will not accept 'raw' cases initiated by 'operatives' and ministers and will not initiate cases.

 

Of course, our citizens who are facing injustice will not be imprisoned. They will be released immediately. Only when we implement this will human rights be preserved, if not 100 percent, then 95 percent. Security will be ensured for future generations.

 

It's the same with economic matters. If you have truly committed a crime, you will be imprisoned; if you are slandered, you will be released. The two agencies will not be subordinate to each other, and fair decisions will be made in between.

 

These are the tasks for the future. We are preparing the buildings and technical base. A decree will be issued, the relevant laws will be submitted to the Jogorku Kenesh, and after they are discussed and adopted, organizational work will begin," says the President of Kyrgyzstan.

 

He added that this year the country is hosting the SCO summit and the Nomad Games. In this regard, this reform will be implemented next year.