Colonel General Abdygul Chotbaev noted on the air of Birinchi Radio that the state of the Armed Forces of Kyrgyzstan is directly related to the economic situation in the country.
He emphasized that the Armed Forces have faced various difficulties throughout their existence, including delays in payments and food shortages. Nevertheless, the military personnel have always shown loyalty to their country.
“The Armed Forces of Kyrgyzstan were established on May 29, 1992, by presidential decree. Despite all the challenges, I am pleased with the current situation in the army. President Sadyr Japarov has paid special attention to the Armed Forces in the last 3–4 years. Previously, we relied on foreign aid for equipment and armaments, but now Kyrgyzstan has been purchasing military equipment from the state budget for the past two to three years, which is a positive step,” Chotbaev noted.
The general also added that all agencies and law enforcement structures must clearly perform their functions.
“Each institution must fulfill its tasks. For example, the Ministry of Defense, the National Security Committee, and the Border Service have their specific responsibilities. The president's initiative to create an Investigative Committee is driven by necessity. In recent years, the activities of the GKNB have been both praised and criticized. In my opinion, the GKNB is too caught up in minor matters, forgetting about more significant tasks,” he added.
Chotbaev also recalled the times of the Soviet Union when the State Security Committee operated almost unnoticed. Employees were engaged in intelligence and counterintelligence, and their presence among the people went unnoticed. “Today, however, the GKNB interferes in economic affairs and even in the work of local police. I believe this is incorrect, so the president's actions in this situation are justified,” the general concluded.
