Kyrgyzstan charges ousted ex-security boss with coup plot

Kyrgyzstan authorities have charged eight people, including powerful ex-security chief Kamchybek Tashiev, with plotting to seize power from President Sadyr Japarov, who has consolidated power in the historically volatile central Asian country.



Tashiev had ruled the former Soviet republic of 7 million in a de facto tandem with Japarov since the pair were swept to power in street protests in 2020, until his abrupt ouster in January.



Tashiev's lawyer, Ikramidin Aytkulov, confirmed the charges in a post on Facebook, saying the trial would be held behind closed doors with reporting banned.

There was no information as to the identities of the other seven people charged, but several ousted officials seen as allies of Tashiev, including a former speaker of parliament, have been interrogated alongside him in recent weeks.