Kadyrbek Atambayev. Video still
In Kyrgyzstan, the son of former president Almazbek Atambayev and several of his supporters have been arrested in a case involving the alleged preparation of mass unrest following the parliamentary elections to the Jogorku Kenesh, scheduled for November 30. The report comes from Kaktus.media.
Those detained include the leader of the Social Democrats party, Temirlan Sultanbekov; his deputy Kadyrbek Atambayev (the ex-president’s son); former MP Shailoobek Atazov; party member Ermek Ermatov; former presidential bodyguard Damir Musakeyev; former MP Kubanychbek Kadyrov; and businessman Urmat Baryktabasov (Askarbekov). A Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) press release also listed the initials of three other men whose identities have not been disclosed.
According to the MVD, authorities disrupted the activities of a “destructive group” consisting of politicians, former MPs, former government employees, and security personnel. The group allegedly recruited supporters — including members of organized crime groups and sports circles — to take part in possible provocations and violent clashes.
“The detainees planned a series of rallies across the country after the announcement of election results, beginning in the south and then in Bishkek and the regions, creating the appearance of widespread discontent. Their plans included unconstitutional demands, as well as the possible seizure of government buildings, TV channels, security facilities, weapons, and penitentiary institutions,” the MVD said.
Investigators say the group established a clear hierarchy and divided roles: “coordination groups” were to put forward political demands, while criminal networks were to provide forceful support for the actions. Some participants had “pre-assigned future positions.”
Searches of the detainees uncovered weapons, ammunition, grenades, communication devices, documents outlining the alleged financing of protest activity, action plans, narcotics, and $150,000 in cash.
The detainees have been charged under Part 1 of Article 278 of the Criminal Code (“Organizing mass unrest involving violence, rioting, arson, destruction of property, the use of firearms, explosives, or explosive devices, or armed resistance to authorities”). They have been placed in temporary detention.
On November 23, the Pervomaisky District Court in Bishkek ordered Atambayev, Sultanbekov, Ermatov, and Baryktabasov held in pretrial detention until January 17, 2026.
From the detention center, the ex-president’s son published two letters alleging pressure from law enforcement, obstruction of access to his lawyer, and calling the charges unfounded. He said his charge had been changed from “incitement to mass unrest” to “attempted violent overthrow of the government.” Atambayev claimed he and his colleagues never called for mass unrest, stating that he was conducting agitation in support of an opposition candidate and linking the case to an earlier complaint he filed with the Prosecutor General’s Office about a mining farm, as well as to his social-media posts on rising prices and socio-economic issues.
The wave of detentions and searches on November 22 also affected other opposition politicians, their families, and media figures. Former April TV general director Dmitry Lozhnikov reported a search, as did the team of opposition leader Adakhan Madumarov, from whom investigators seized equipment and personal items. Former First Lady Raisa Atambayeva was also questioned after a search of her home. All were released after interrogation.
