In March 2015 the Anti-Corruption Agency of the National Security Committee of Kyrgyzstan caught Arpachiev receiving a $100,000 bribe. He was prosecuted for extortion, according to Radio Free Europe/Azattyk.
Along with the prison sentence, the district court of Bishkek ordered the confiscation of Arpachiev’s property. Once released, Arpachiev will not be allowed to work in the office of the prosecutor general for three years.
Arpachiev’s lawyer announced that he will file an appeal, according to Azattyk/Radio Free Europe in Kyrgystan.
Along with the arrest of Arpachiev, another deputy, Temirbek Bekmamatov, was dismissed and charged with using his influence to organize a crime ring to smuggle domestic animal fur from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, according to Kloop and other regional media. Two other deputies resigned.
Political scientist Ilyas Bekbolotov suspected that the dismissal and prosecution of the deputies is related to an effort to "clean up the staff" of former Prosecutor General Aida Salyanova and her administration.
Bekbolotov told Azattyk that through Salyanova’s former colleagues, she might have the potential to influence many criminal cases currently under investigation.
Salyanova resigned as prosecutor general in 2015, claiming it was because she had no support from the president. She is currently a member of Parliament.
This story was contributed by Elle Alkanova
