Boris Yugai

Boris Alexandrovich Yugai (Борис Александрович Югай) (1957-2010) was a Kyrgyzstani Major General and military leader who served as the Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff from March 2007 to June 2008 under President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Yugai is Korean by ethnicity and is fluent in the Korean language outside of Russian and Kyrgyz. He died in Bishkek in March 2010 as a result of a heart attack. Yugai is generally regarded as an important figure in the military, often enjoying strong support among military personnel.

Career timeline

 * 1979 – Graduated from the Leningrad Higher Artillery Command School
 * 1980-1982 – Took part in the Soviet–Afghan War as part of a Soviet Army contingent
 * 1999-2000 – Took part in the elimination of the militants of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in southern Kyrgyzstan during the Batken Conflict
 * 2001 – Graduated from academic courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia
 * December 2000-October 2002 – Served as the Head of the Main Organization and Mobilization Directorate of the General Staff
 * October 2002-March 2007 – Deputy Minister of Defense
 * March 2007-July 2008 – Chief of the General Staff/First Deputy Minister of Defense
 * October 2007 – Chief of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization

Personal awards

 * Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 1st and 2nd Degree
 * Medal "To the Soldier-Internationalist from the Grateful Afghan People"
 * Order of Friendship
 * Medal "For Impeccable Service" 1st Degree (Күжүрмөн кызмат өтөгөндүгү үчүн)
 * Medal "10 years of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic"