He made the remarks in an interview with journalist Ali Toktakunov, responding to a question about claims that $4 billion had been recovered through corruption cases.

«Honestly speaking, $4 billion did not come from corruption,» Sadyr Japarov said.

According to him, at the beginning of the anti-corruption campaign, he had warned Kamchybek Tashiev against citing unverified figures.

«I told him then: ‘My friend, don’t play with figures. If tomorrow that amount does not materialize, they will say you ate it all. Be careful with the figures, speak realistically,’» the president said.

Sadyr Japarov explained that the large amounts could have resulted from inflated valuations of confiscated property. As an example, he cited apartments seized from people involved in corruption cases.

According to the president, an apartment worth $100,000 could be valued at $300,000 and then transferred to the state, although it was impossible to sell it for that price.

«Who are you going to sell it to for $300,000 if it is worth $100,000 on the market?» Sadyr Japarov said.

He said an audit is currently underway to determine how much property was transferred to the state and how much of it has been sold. According to him, hundreds of properties remain on the state’s balance sheet and have yet to be sold.

At the same time, Sadyr Japarov stressed that the results of the anti-corruption campaign cannot be denied. According to him, the state has gained significant benefits from recovered property and funds.

He noted that the proceeds were used to build schools, renovate SCNS buildings in the regions, construct the SCNS Academy, as well as sports grounds and recreation areas.

«I am not saying that nothing came from corruption or that there was no benefit. There was significant benefit,» Sadyr Japarov said.

After Sadyr Japarov came to power and Kamchybek Tashiev was appointed head of the SCNS, Kyrgyzstan launched a large-scale anti-corruption campaign. As part of the so-called «kusturization», people involved in corruption cases returned money and property to the state, including voluntarily and before court rulings were issued.

In December 2025, Kamchybek Tashiev said that over five years of the anti-corruption campaign, more than 300 billion soms, over 1,000 properties and 30,000 hectares of land had been returned to the state.