Kyrgyzstan denies detained ex-official posting from jail

Kyrgyzstan's State Penitentiary Service has refuted claims that Eldar Zhakypbekov, a former head of the GKNB's Bishkek department, is personally posting on social media while in detention. The service issued a statement to clarify the situation after a post about betrayal appeared on Zhakypbekov's Instagram account.

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The information being disseminated that Zhakypbekov is allegedly personally publishing messages on social networks does not correspond to reality.

The post included a photo of Zhakypbekov with prominent figures including President Sadyr Japarov and former GKNB head Kamchybek Tashiev. The text alluded to the importance of friendship and the unacceptability of betrayal, without specifying who it concerned. This led to speculation online about Zhakypbekov's potential release or access to a phone and internet in pre-trial detention.

The penitentiary service firmly stated that Zhakypbekov remains in Institution No. 21, known as SIZO-1, under standard conditions without any privileges. He shares a cell with five other individuals. The service reiterated that detainees are prohibited from possessing, storing, or using mobile phones and have no access to the internet or social media. Any discovered communication devices are confiscated, and offenders face disciplinary action.

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Persons held in custody are prohibited from having, storing, and using mobile phones. They also do not have access to the internet and social networks.

To support their statement, the service provided a photograph from the cell, showing Zhakypbekov among other detainees. The identity of the person who published the Instagram post remains unconfirmed by the agency. The State Penitentiary Service called on media, social media users, and the public to rely solely on official and verified information. Zhakypbekov was dismissed and detained in February 2026 amid security sector reshuffling, facing charges of corruption under Article 336 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Military Prosecutor's Office is handling the investigation, and a court has since ordered his pre-trial detention.

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We urge the media, social media users, and the public to be guided only by official and verified information.