Keneshbek Duyshebaev
General, former Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS).
Keneshbek Duyshebaev was detained on October 23, 2022, in connection with the “Kempir-Abad” case. In April 2024, due to health concerns, he was released from pre-trial detention and placed under a travel ban as a restrictive measure.
His case was separated from the other defendants and is being examined as a standalone proceeding in the Pervomaisky District Court. However, public information about the trial remains very limited, with no detailed updates on the progress, hearings, or outcomes officially disclosed.
“Charged under Articles Organization of mass riots – Article 278
Calls for the violent seizure of power – Article 327”
In 2022, a group of activists, politicians, and public figures opposing the government’s decision to transfer the Kempir-Abad reservoir to Uzbekistan were arrested, sparking widespread public protests that later became known as the “Kempir-Abad case.”
Keneshbek Duyshebaev was among those charged. He faced accusations under Article 36-278 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (“Preparation for organizing mass riots”) and other related articles. Arrested on October 23, 2022, he was held in Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 1 (SIZO-1) for nearly two years.
In May 2024, his health deteriorated sharply, and he was released from detention under a travel ban (“подписка о невыезде”). Due to his medical condition, his case was separated from the main group and transferred into a standalone proceeding.
While the main trial concluded on June 14, 2024, with 22 defendants acquitted, Duyshebaev’s case remains pending. As of 2025, it is still under consideration in the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek, with no final verdict issued.
Keneshbek Duyshebaev’s health severely deteriorated while in pre-trial detention. On several occasions, he was brought to court hearings on a stretcher, with reports indicating that his life was at risk. In May 2024, his condition worsened dramatically, and during one court session he had to be carried out of the courtroom on a stretcher. Despite repeated emergency calls, medical assistance was inadequate. As his condition continued to decline, the court changed his preventive measure and placed him under a travel ban (“подписка о невыезде”), allowing him to seek treatment and continue rehabilitation outside of detention.
Having spent nearly two years in SIZO and undergone extended periods of hunger strikes, Duyshebaev’s health reached a critical state. He suffered from dangerously high blood pressure that remained uncontrolled, heart problems, and severe breathing difficulties. His overall condition required hospitalization. In addition, he needed complex medical care for his nervous system and general physical rehabilitation.
