The day before, on September 23, 2025, at the annual international forum “Education, Science, and Finance” held in Bishkek, Nuradil Makhmudov, an academic community representative and expert in science and educational systems, publicly criticized the actions of Kyrgyz state institutions. He accused them of systematically pressuring the scientific and educational communities, violating legal norms, and fostering an environment of fear and widespread corruption among academic professionals.
According to Makhmudov, the situation in the country goes far beyond isolated incidents. He stated that law enforcement officials are increasingly interfering in the activities of educational and scientific organizations, pressuring staff, demanding access to confidential information, seizing documents without legal grounds, and demanding bribes in the form of money.
“Today, professionals in the academic sector are increasingly facing illegal demands, threats, and pressure. Representatives of the scientific community are being required to hand over documents and information without court orders, and refusal can lead to serious consequences. This destroys trust in state institutions and undermines the very foundation of scientific independence,” Makhmudov stated.
During his speech, Makhmudov emphasized that he was speaking not only as a representative of the scientific community but also as someone who had personally faced persecution and illegal methods of pressure. According to him, he has repeatedly been subjected to threats, psychological pressure, and physical violence after publicly raising issues of corruption and abuse in the academic sphere, which, in his view, is led by the highest officials of the state in the person of the president and his team.
“I had to face illegal demands, threats, and physical violence. All of this happened simply because I spoke openly about the problems existing in the system. I consider it my duty to warn my colleagues that such situations can affect any specialist working in the scientific and educational sphere,” he noted.
Nuradil Makhmudov described a range of problems that, in his view, have become systemic in nature, such as: the illegal seizure of documents and materials without court orders; pressure on representatives of educational institutions; corruption schemes and extortion of bribes; and intimidation of professionals who raise issues of reform and transparency.
According to the speaker, such practices create an atmosphere of fear among researchers and academic staff, which negatively impacts the development of science and education in the country.
“Today, many experts prefer to remain silent or leave the country, fearing pressure and persecution. This leads to a brain drain and a weakening of Kyrgyzstan’s intellectual potential,” he stated.
Makhmudov separately emphasized that pressure on the academic community poses a threat not only to the education system but also to the future of the state as a whole. In his view, the erosion of scientific independence and the decline in trust in educational institutions directly affect the quality of workforce training and the country’s ability to develop a modern economy.
“If such practices continue, Kyrgyzstan may face a serious shortage of qualified specialists. Young scientists and educators will seek opportunities outside the country, and trust in the academic system will be permanently undermined,” he noted.
The young specialist also emphasized that a decline in scientific independence and increased administrative pressure could negatively impact Kyrgyzstan’s international reputation, limit cooperation with foreign universities and research centers, and reduce the flow of investment into educational and scientific projects.
In closing his remarks, Makhmudov called on the Kyrgyz authorities to take urgent measures to protect members of the scientific and educational community. Among the key proposals put forward by the expert:
– Strengthening judicial oversight of law enforcement actions, – Protecting academic freedom and the independence of scientific institutions, – Establishing transparent mechanisms for reviewing complaints of pressure from government agencies, – Combating corruption in the education system, – Establishing safety guarantees for teachers and researchers.
“Without independent science and a free academic community, it is impossible to build a modern state. Today, Kyrgyzstan faces a choice: either create conditions for the development of science and education, or continue down a path leading to intellectual degradation and a loss of trust from its own society and the international community,” Makhmudov stated.
The “Education, Science, and Finance” forum, which brought together representatives from educational institutions, the scientific community, the financial sector, and international organizations, served as a platform for discussing the key challenges facing the education and science systems of Central Asia.
One of the central themes of the event was the need to ensure the rule of law, transparency of state institutions, and the protection of academic freedom as the foundation for sustainable development.
According to forum participants, Nuradil Makhmudov’s presentation was one of the most impactful of the entire event. Many experts noted that the issues he raised reflect the genuine concerns of a significant portion of Kyrgyzstan’s scientific and educational community.
As international experts emphasized, ignoring such signals could have long-term consequences for the country’s scientific potential, its economy, and its international reputation.