Son of Ex-President Almazbek Atambaev Alleges Threats and Torture in Detention; Prison Service Denies Claims

Kadyrbek Atambaev, the younger son of former Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambaev and a party leader of the Social Democrats, has accused detention authorities of threats, attempted beatings and other forms of mistreatment in a letter he sent from custody last week. The letter, published on Instagram by his sister Aлия Шагиева, challenges the criminal case against him as politically motivated and describes conditions and treatment he says amount to psychological and physical coercion.

In the published appeal, Кадырбек Атамбаев wrote that he “не было никаких связей с ОПГ и арсеналов оружия,” asserting he had no ties to organized criminal groups or arms caches and calling the charges “сфабрикованным.” He said he believed his detention was intended to “взять в заложники, чтобы шантажировать семью отца — Алмазбека Атамбаева,” framing his incarceration as leverage against his father.

In the letter Atambaev compared his circumstances to those of sons of other former Kyrgyz leaders, invoking the names Максим Бакиев and Айдар Акаев and arguing he had not engaged in alleged corrupt practices attributed to them. He wrote: “не открывал банки, не рейдерил бизнесы, не отмывал деньги международной мафии, не 'сидел' на инвестициях или таможне.” At the same time he described harsh conditions in pretrial detention, saying he had spent eight months “в СИЗО с клопами и тараканами,” and contrasted his confinement with what he described as the freedom of other political figures.

Beyond conditions, Atambaev’s letter contains direct accusations of abusive treatment during custody. He alleges that from the outset he was “угрожали пытками, выкручивали руки, пытались избить в отсутствие камер.” He further claims that officers repeatedly forced him to the floor, brought unidentified operatives into his cell, mistreated sick cellmates and punished them for showing him support, and confiscated letters from his mother and other family members. He characterized daily searches as conducted “с целью сломать” him, but added that the experience had only strengthened him and that he still believes in justice.

The State Service for Execution of Punishments of Kyrgyzstan (Государственная служба исполнения наказаний Кыргызстана, ГСИН) issued an official rebuttal on July 6, saying the published allegations were not true. In its statement the GSIN asserted that “Распространяемые утверждения о применении сотрудниками следственного изолятора силы, запугивания, психологического давления и пыток в отношении обвиняемого не соответствуют действительности,” and stressed that principles of legality, safety and respect for human rights are observed for all detainees. The service added that detainees undergo medical examinations as required by Kyrgyz law and that no formal complaints of bodily injury, use of force or torture had been received by medical staff or administration to date.

The dispute over the allegations comes amid broader political and legal tensions. Кадырбек Атамбаев and fellow Social Democrats leader Темирлан Султанбеков were detained in November 2025 in connection with an investigation into the alleged preparation of mass unrest; they were later charged with “насильственный захват власти” (violent seizure of power). Both the defendants and their relatives have described the case as politically motivated.

Former Kyrgyz prime minister Феликс Кулов publicly reacted to the open letter, urging that the criminal case be brought to court without delay. Writing on Facebook, Kulov said that questions had existed from the outset regarding the sufficiency of the evidence against Кадырбек Атамбаев and Темирлан Султанбеков, and that a protracted investigation without clear, convincing proof raises doubts in society. He said he raised the matter in response to the detainee’s appeal and suggested that the letter could prompt reconsideration of aspects of the investigative and judicial process. Kulov also added that amnesty for former president Алмазбек Атамбаев would be an act of humanity.

Context for the current dispute includes Almazbek Atambaev’s own legal history. He served as Kyrgyzstan’s president from 2011 to 2017 and was the country’s first leader to step down after a single term. He was detained in August 2019 in connection with the violent events in Koy-Tash, linked to the release of a criminal figure, and was released from custody in February 2023 and shortly afterward left for Spain for medical treatment. He has since said the Koy-Tash case should be examined by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The allegations by his son and the GSIN’s denial add to ongoing concerns among rights advocates and political actors about detention conditions and the rule of law in Kyrgyzstan.

The conflicting statements leave several issues unresolved: whether independent medical or international oversight will investigate the claims of torture and ill-treatment, whether formal complaints will be lodged and examined, and how quickly the courts will consider the charges against Кадырбек Атамбаев and other co-defendants. For now, the case remains a focal point for debates over political accountability, the rights of detainees and the integrity of Kyrgyzstan’s criminal justice processes.