The Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) of Kyrgyzstan, Kamchybek Tashiev, commented on the detention of the Matraimov brothers. According to him, an investigation is ongoing. The three brothers are currently in Osh. One of them is facing criminal charges for "Abuse of official position", while the other two are being investigated for money laundering.
Raiymbek Matraimov is in pre-trial detention in the GKNB detention center in Bishkek. Tashiev stated that the cases against them are straightforward as they were stealing from the state. Raiymbek Matraimov was declared wanted by the GKNB on January 26, 2024.
On March 25, 2024, in cooperation with the special services of Azerbaijan, Raiymbek Matraimov was detained in Baku, along with his brothers Tilek, Ruslan, and Islambek, who were also wanted. Raiymbek Matraimov was extradited to Bishkek from Baku the next day. It was revealed that he was connected to a transnational criminal group from Azerbaijan planning an assassination attempt on the leadership of Kyrgyzstan.
Raiymbek Matraimov is facing charges under articles 169 "Illegal deprivation of liberty" and 222 "Money laundering" of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan. The Pervomaysky District Court of Bishkek remanded him in pre-trial detention until April 26.
From 2015 to 2017, Raiymbek Matraimov served as the deputy head of the State Customs Service. Following a change of government in October 2020, he was accused of corruption in customs. The total damage caused by Raiymbek Matraimov in one criminal case alone amounted to 2 billion soms. He paid them off over two months, mostly in the form of property. The former customs official admitted his guilt and was fined 260,000 soms by the Pervomaysky District Court of Bishkek.
