BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 19. The government of Kyrgyzstan has reclaimed assets associated with a flour mill in Balikchy city, valued at approximately 288.96 million soms (about $3.4 million), as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, Trend reports.
According to the State Committee for National Security, the reclamation of these properties follows the initiation of criminal proceedings against officials from the State Material Reserves Fund of Kyrgyzstan. These individuals are accused of illegally privatizing state assets tied to the flour mill.
The State Committee for National Security reported that it will continue its efforts to identify and reclaim other illegally privatized state properties as part of its broader fight against corruption.
Additionally, the government has returned the illegally privatized Kyzyl-Kiya Machine Engineering Plant, located in the Batken region. The value of the plant is reported to be 4.074 billion soms (approximately $48.3 million).
At the inauguration of the new building for the committee in Kyrgyzstan, its head, Kamchybek Tashiev, emphasized the urgent need for legislative changes regarding penalties for corruption. He revealed that the committee has already drafted amendments that are currently under consideration.
Tashiev pointed out that many offenders have been negotiating plea deals, admitting guilt, and receiving only fines. He asserted that under the proposed changes, fines would be abolished in favor of actual prison sentences for those convicted of corruption.