One of those who experienced these events is Zhyrgalbek Isabaev from the village of Boz-Bulun, located in the Ak-Suu district of the Issyk-Kul region. He began his service in the army at the age of 18.
In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, the veteran shared that his military service coincided with the Afghan war. "I was drafted into a military regiment in Kapchagay (Kazakhstan), and I was not yet 19 years old. At first, we gathered volunteers, and then we were formed into the 'Muslim Battalion.' The hardest days were at the beginning of winter 1979 when we arrived in Afghanistan. The training was insufficient, and the cold tormented us. Many of my comrades who were nearby perished," he recalls.
Zhyrgalbek Isabaev spent a year and a half in Afghanistan. "After World War II, this was a large-scale conflict that lasted an entire decade and claimed the lives of 15,702 people. So many children and innocent civilians, so many fates... I always hope that such a war will not happen again. We saw everything possible there. If I were to describe each day, I could write a whole book. Today, veterans of the Afghan war are over 55 years old. We participate in events aimed at fostering patriotism among the youth and wish them a bright future," he noted.
After returning from Afghanistan, Isabaev began working in the internal affairs system. "During my service in Afghanistan, I became a member of the party. Upon returning home, I decided to continue my military career. Since 1981, I worked as a district inspector in the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Issyk-Kul region, then in the duty unit and in the department for working with classified documents. I am currently retired," he added.
Zhyrgalbek Isabaev was awarded the 'Erdik' medal, as well as the 'Gratitude from the Afghan People' medal, the 'Excellence in Police' medal, and departmental awards from the Ministry of Internal Affairs 'Azamat' (1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes).
Together with his wife, he raised three children and became a grandfather to eight grandchildren.
