The State Committee for National Security (SSC) reported that Almazbek Istambaev, the general director of the Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theater named after Abdylas Maldybaev, was arrested.
According to the information of the special service, the fact of abuse of position in the conclusion of contracts for long-term lease of the property owned by the institution in the opera and ballet theater was revealed.
In this regard, a criminal case was initiated under the article “Abuse of official status” of the Criminal Code, and pre-trial proceedings were started. Almazbek Istambaev was placed in the temporary detention center of the Criminal Investigation Department.
“Relevant investigative measures are being taken to identify other officials involved in this fact and to compensate for the damage to the state budget,” the report said.
Almazbek Istambaev’s relatives and lawyers have not commented. He was appointed as the general director of the Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theater named after Abdylas Maldybaev in February 2022. From 2000 to 2019, he worked as a leading opera soloist of the Opera and Ballet Theater.
Source : Azattyk