BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz Energy Minister Doskul Bekmurzaev has been charged with abuse of power in two probes launched against him over the usage of state funds.
The Prosecutor-General's Office said in a statement on September 13 that one case was launched against the minister regarding his alleged use of the state budget for personal trips by his subordinates to the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Russia in 2021-22.
The statement said the second case launched against Bekmurzaev is about the misuse of state budget funds during the renovation of a spa complex.
Bekmurzaev has yet to comment.
Earlier in July, Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov publicly reprimanded Bekmurzaev for general shortcomings in his work. Before that, lawmakers also criticized the minister over energy issues faced by the Central Asian nation.
Bekmurzaev was appointed to the post in June 2021. He has said that he launched dramatic reforms in the energy sector.
