BISHKEK -- A senior Kyrgyz security official has stepped down in protest at what he says is his agency's transformation into a "tool" to protect top officials' interests, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Marat Imankulov, deputy chief of the State Committee for National Security (UKMK), announced his resignation on August 24 and harshly criticized both UKMK head Keneshbek Duishebaev and the country's leadership in general,
Imankulov told a press conference in Bishkek he does not agree with "the course of Kyrgyzstan's political leadership and the leadership of the UKMK." He accused Duishebaev and other top UKMK officials of turning that agency "into a tool to protect their private interests and those of several politicians."
Imankulov said he decided to step down to protest that situation, and also because he plans to run in the presidential election scheduled for the end of October.
The UKMK has not yet commented on Imankulov's statement.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
Marat Imankulov, deputy chief of the State Committee for National Security (UKMK), announced his resignation on August 24 and harshly criticized both UKMK head Keneshbek Duishebaev and the country's leadership in general,
Imankulov told a press conference in Bishkek he does not agree with "the course of Kyrgyzstan's political leadership and the leadership of the UKMK." He accused Duishebaev and other top UKMK officials of turning that agency "into a tool to protect their private interests and those of several politicians."
Imankulov said he decided to step down to protest that situation, and also because he plans to run in the presidential election scheduled for the end of October.
The UKMK has not yet commented on Imankulov's statement.
Read more in Kyrgyz here