Akaev criticized law enforcement agencies for failing to carry out specific tasks in eradicating corruption, economic crimes and robberies. According to the president, \"Criminal elements are unpunished, permeate state agencies, seek power and terrorize the state\" and \"international experts and many citizens consider law enforcement agencies, primarily the police, as the most corrupt structures in Kyrgyzstan. They also say the criminal world is merging with certain representatives of law enforcement, fiscal and special services as well as state agencies\".

The breaking point became the murder of the Head of the Directorate on Malfeasance of the Interior Ministry Colonel Chynybek Aliev, who investigated some contract murders and was about to disclose who ordered them. He was shot to dead in a Bishkek street in the evening of May 5, when the Day of Constitution was held in Kyrgyzstan.

On May 14, parliamentary deputies admitted that the activity of the Ministry of Interior was unsatisfactory. The General Procurator Myktybek Abdyldaev stated that the Office of General Procurator enforced its activity and already filed criminal cases against high profile state officials. The ex-governor of Issyk kul oblast Emilbek Anapiyaev was charged with embezzlement. In response, the ex-governor returned US$53,000 to the state budged. Later, President Askar Akaev dismissed him from his position as presidential envoy.

A cleaning out of the penitentiary system was also conducted. According to Vecherniy Bishkek newspaper, several heads of prisons stole funds for prisoners’ meals, and criminal cases have been opened against them. Earlier, prison supervisors were complaining of a lack of funds budgeted by the state for prisoners’ meals, claiming it as a reason for the spread of tuberculosis.

The Office of the General Procurator and national security services intended to clean up other authorities after the Ministry of Interior. Economic criminal cases have already been filed against some employees of the taxation inspection and other authorities.

On the whole, these have been positive changes in Kyrgyzstan. Earlier, corruption in the Kyrgyz state system was recognized by international organizations as a major barrier to the country’s development. However, along with positive changes, the forceful impact on the power of the opposition has been observed.

Erkin Mambetaliev, bodyguard of opposition leader Almazbek Atambaev, was arrested as a possible contract murderer in the case of the assassination of Chynybek Aliev. On May 26, Ombudsman Tursunbay Bakir Uulu along with Atambaev had given press conference, where they stated that Erkin Mambetaliev is now hospitalized after having been tortured to exert a confession. Atambaev earlier declared he will run in the presidential elections of 2005.

Recently, the children of journalists Rina Prijivoyt (MSN newspaper), Zamira Sydykova (Respublika newspaper) were severely beaten by unknown assailants. They claim it is related with their professional activity and a series of articles related to corruption in the Ministry of Interior. They condemned “Bishkek city Interior Ministry staff engaged in political contracts”. Human Rights Watch and the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights urged President Askar Akaev to stop undue pressure on independent journalists and provide safety for their work.