... [GKNB officers] come to our establishment, they cause complete mayhem, and we can’t kick them out because we know that on the next day someone will come for us.” Given the GKNB's ruthlessly effective suppression of dissidents and Japarov’s political opponents, why was Tashiev removed? “From Japarov’s point of view, it seems that the situation started to look quite dangerous,” he told OCCRP. Just last month, Japarov signed a new bill that will give the agency broader authority over telecom data and mobile devices. “Even though Tashiev was the main personification of the repressive instruments,” Umarov says, “these instruments will remain even in his absence."