WUF13 in Baku highlights public-private cooperation on sustainable urban development
The World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13) in Baku has placed a strong emphasis on strengthening cooperation between the pub...
Kyrgyzstan lawmaker Shairbek Tashiev has resigned from parliament after being questioned by investigators. The Central Election Commission confirmed it has formally terminated his parliamentary mandate.
According to the CEC, Tashiev’s official parliamentary certificate has been declared invalid after he filed a written request to relinquish his seat in the Jogorku Kenesh, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament.
The development comes after Tashiev was summoned for questioning by the Interior Ministry a day earlier. Authorities have not disclosed details of the investigation or clarified in what capacity the former lawmaker was questioned.
Officials have also not specified whether Tashiev is involved in the case as a witness or as a suspect.
In recent days, several videos and audio recordings circulating on social media have been linked to the politician. One recording allegedly features a conversation between Tashiev and another public figure discussing the activities of casinos. Tashiev has not publicly commented on the authenticity of the recording.
Following the termination of his mandate, Tashiev addressed his supporters and voters in a statement shared on social media by one of his supporters.
In his message, the former MP thanked voters for their trust and said his decision to step down was motivated by a desire to preserve political stability in the country.
“In recent days, slander and false accusations against me and my family have spread on social networks, disturbing our peace,” Tashiev said in the statement. “For me, the most important thing is your trust. Whether in politics or another field, I will continue to serve my people and my country.”
Shairbek Tashiev is the younger brother of Kamchybek Tashiev, the former head of the State Committee for National Security and a former deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers.
The politician was first elected to parliament in 2021 from a single-mandate constituency in the Jalal-Abad region. In 2025, he won a new mandate representing a district that includes the city of Manas and part of Suzak district.
Before stepping down, Tashiev had previously argued that only voters in his constituency - around 24,000 people - had the authority to recall his parliamentary mandate.
Tashiev is the sixth member of the current parliament to resign from office. Earlier, lawmakers Eldar Sulaimanov, Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, Kunduzbek Sulaimanov, Kubanychbek Kongantiev and Kurmankul Zulushev also stepped down.
Another MP, Zhanarbek Akaev, recently left parliament after being appointed mayor of the southern city of Osh by presidential decree.
The recent departures reflect a continuing reshuffle within Kyrgyzstan’s political landscape.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya warned on Tuesday (19 May) that Moscow could retaliate against Baltic states if Ukraine launches military drones from that region. Latvia, the United States and Ukraine responded strongly during a UN Security Council meeting.
Russia is considering the possibility of joint projects with the United States and China, Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, (Russia's sovereign wealth fund), was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.
Passenger rail services between Baku and Tbilisi are expected to resume in 2026, after being suspended in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and regional border restrictions.
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Amid shifting global supply chains and rising geopolitical competition over trade corridors, attention is increasingly turning to the strategic role of transit states linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Europe and the Middle East.
Kyrgyzstan has suspended 50 locally registered companies over what authorities described as “high sanctions risk” operations, in the clearest sign yet that Bishkek is responding to growing European scrutiny over alleged sanctions circumvention linked to Russia.
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