Among the 37 employees who reached out, 34 are citizens of Kyrgyzstan, two are citizens of Russia, and one is a citizen of Uzbekistan. All of them claim to have been officially employed.
The editorial office of Kaktus.media has begun an investigation into this situation.
Cargo Air Transportation
On the official website of the company, it is stated that "KAP Key Ji" performs regular and charter cargo air transportation using the Airbus A-300B4 aircraft.The company committed to regularly deliver breeding small cattle from Mongolia to Uzbekistan, planning to carry out 60 flights, but actually completed only 11.
Employees have not received salaries for the completed flights, and invoices from the airports of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), "Navoi" (Uzbekistan), and "Manas" (Kyrgyzstan) have not been paid, which are now accruing penalties.
Failure to Meet Obligations
According to the employees' information, in January 2025, Jamal Abdubekov, the founder of "KAP Key Ji" and the de facto manager, withdrew about $2 million from the company's accounts and left Kyrgyzstan.As a result, the company incurred debts:
- debt to fuel suppliers;
- for overflight over territories;
- debt to airports;
- tax obligations;
- salary arrears.
In May 2025, the company's main asset - the Airbus A-300B4 (registration number EX-30008) was seized and subsequently sold, but the money from the sale did not reach the account of "KAP Key Ji."
Lack of Aircraft and Finances
Even before the seizure, in February 2025, the employees found a new partner in Kenya and signed a contract.The Kenyan airline Safe Air offered to take the aircraft on long-term lease for transporting cargo from the port of Mombasa, caused by the blockade of shipping in the Red Sea. The company passed a rigorous inspection according to EASA part 145 standards.
"Our airline successfully passed the procedures that other airlines in Kyrgyzstan still have to undergo to exit the blacklist. We did all this out of pure enthusiasm and professional duty," the employees said.
However, in May 2025, the aircraft was seized due to Abdubekov's debts, which were unrelated to the company's activities.
Creditors insisted on transferring the aircraft to "Kyrgyz Aero Trade," representing the interests of the Russian company "Lambda."
Employees claim that this company had financial ties with Abdubekov.
"Kyrgyz Aero Trade" promised to pay off the airline's debts and salaries, but these promises were not fulfilled," they noted.
As a result, the tax debt fell on "KAP Key Ji." Now the team demands the nationalization of the company and the Airbus A-300B4 without arrest and suspension of activities.
In their opinion, this is necessary for:
- preserving the fulfillment of the contract with Uzbekistan;
- creating the first state cargo airline of Kyrgyzstan;
- ensuring tax revenues to the budget;
- protecting the labor rights of employees.
The employees managed to conclude a tripartite contract for the supply of breeding small cattle from Mongolia to Uzbekistan, which was previously executed.
The contract involves: the Republic of Uzbekistan – LLC "Kyrgyz Aero Trade" (KAT) – LLC "KAP Key Ji." This contract was supposed to partially solve the financial problems of the carrier.
The company "Kyrgyz Aero Trade" insisted on becoming the third party with the right to receive all the money from the contract, which allowed it to appropriate more than $500 thousand.
"Uzbekistan transfers money to the KAT account, which is supposed to pay all the bills of 'KAP Key Ji.' In practice, KAT delays payments, which disrupts the regularity of flights and creates risks for the animals," the employees stated, adding that KAT has not settled with employees, fuel suppliers, or airports in Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and Kyrgyzstan, nor has it paid for air navigation services.
As a result, Kyrgyzstan has found itself in an unfavorable light on the international stage, which may negatively affect its exit from the EU blacklist, noted representatives of the airline.37 employees of "KAP Key Ji" have appealed to the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, sharing their difficulties.
The letter states that since February 1, 2025, the company has not fulfilled its obligations to pay salaries.
The presidential administration reported that the documents and the application were forwarded to the General Prosecutor's Office and the State Committee for National Security (GKNB).
The response indicated that the agencies were instructed to conduct a legal assessment of the actions of the mentioned individuals and organizations in accordance with the law, as well as to take measures to preserve the airline's property and ensure the fulfillment of the intergovernmental agreement with the Republic of Uzbekistan, considering the possibility of temporary state control measures.
It was also noted in the document the necessity of respecting the labor rights of employees and the financial stability of the company during the procedural actions. The General Prosecutor's Office and GKNB are to report on the implementation of these instructions, but according to the employees, no changes have occurred in their case.
The employees of the company also reached out to the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan for assistance, as the head of the company is located in the U.S.
The aviators filed a lawsuit in the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek against "KAP Key Ji" and its manager Jamal Abdubekov.
They are also considering an alternative option.
"One of Abdubekov's companies has an aircraft engine that can be sold to pay off debts. But without it, this is impossible. Each of us hoped for our salary," concluded the affected employees.
Currently, the lawsuit for the recovery of wages for the period from February 1, 2025, to March 1, 2026, after deducting payments for August 2025, amounts to 109 million 293 thousand 567.08 soms. The court has accepted it for consideration.
