A search was carried out at Ayu factory. Press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported.
The police found 260 tons of illegal alcohol, as well as 13,000 bottles of vodka with fake excise stamps.
«Earlier, employees of the Main Criminal Investigation Department received information that unknown persons organized illegal production of alcohol and alcoholic beverages at the production plant in Tokmak. A criminal case has been initiated under the article «Illegal production of alcohol and alcohol-containing drinks» of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. Urgent searches were carried out, including in the village of Sokuluk and Tokmak city. More than 260 tons of ethyl alcohol, accounting documentation of Ayu company, as well as 13,000 bottles of alcoholic beverages with fake excise stamps were found and seized at the warehouses of finished products of Tokmok Bulls LLC,» the ministry said.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs added that the warehouses were sealed and are guarded. As part of the criminal case, searches were conducted at 118 addresses. «The head of the security of the distillery, 41-year-old M.T., and the chief technologist of the same enterprise, 35-year-old I.A., were detained in Tokmak,» the ministry said.
Earlier it was reported that the owner of Ayu factory allegedly voluntarily transfers it to the ownership of the state.
From September 1, 2022, the Kara-Balta Distillery has the exclusive right to produce and sell alcohol in Kyrgyzstan, but it produces alcohol of lux class only.
Earlier, the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, in an interview with Kabar news agency, said that Ayu distillery would be nationalized. The company allegedly did not pay taxes and smuggled alcohol.
Ayu company is owned by one of the richest people in the country, businessman Sharshenbek Abdykerimov. He has five companies. He is the only founder of two — Ak-Sarai peasant farm, which breeds cattle, and the construction company Frunze-Resort. He is co-founder of other three.
The former deputy also has shares in Ayu LLC, General Management Company and Ayu Construction company.
According to the data for 2020, Frunze-Resort paid the most contributions to the budget — 1,126,810 soms, followed by Ak-Sarai farm — 406,892 soms. Ayu LLC paid only 490,000 soms.
