Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has admitted in a recent interview that he had considered backing former State Committee for National Security (SCNS) head Kamchybek Tashiev as his successor, reports infohub.kz.
In a conversation with journalist Ali Toktakunov, Japarov said he had planned not to run in the 2027 presidential election and to retire, paving the way for Tashiev. However, he later changed his mind, disappointed in his potential successor's readiness.
"I thought that after my six-year presidential term ends in 2027, if Kamchy were ready, I would not run for re-election in 2027. Kamchy would become president, and I would retire. That was my plan. A year before, I told him about it myself," Japarov shared.
He also explained his reasons for wanting to step down: "I lived abroad for four years, spent four years in prison, and the last six years I've been as if under escort. My hair turned gray, grandchildren appeared, and I wanted to be with my family. I told him: 'Be ready, clean up your inner circle, train your people.'"
However, according to the president, Tashiev did not meet expectations. "Then I see he's not ready. His staff behave improperly, people from his circle have become too arrogant. When the letter from 75 elders appeared, when parliament began to be divided into supporters of the general, I called him in and said: 'This won't do. You can't split people. I harshly punish those who divide the nation into north and south, as people have just started to unite. So, no offense, but I'm removing you from your post. If you want to run in the election, I'll create all the conditions for you,'" Japarov concluded.