Almazbek Atambayev

2.1. Early Life and Family

Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev was born on September 17, 1956, in the village of Arashan, located in the northern Chüy of the then Kirghiz SSR. His father, Sharshen Atambayev, was a veteran of World War II, having served on the front lines in Eastern Europe with the Red Army. Atambayev has four children from his first marriage to Buazhar: two sons, Seyit and Seytek, and two daughters, Diana and Dinara. In 1988, he married his second wife, Raisa, an ethnic Tatar born in the Ural Mountains of Russia, who later moved to Osh as a child. Raisa is a doctor. Together, they have six children, including daughters Aliya (born 1997), Diana, and Dinara, and sons Seyit, Seytek, and Khadyrbek (born 1993). His daughter, Aliya Shagieva, is a renowned artist in Kyrgyzstan. In January 2018, Atambayev published a song he authored titled "Kyrgyzstan," which was later re-written by Azerbaijani performer Araz Elses.

2.2. Education

Atambayev pursued his higher education at the Moscow Institute of Management, where he earned a degree in economics, specializing in economic engineering and production management. After graduating, he began his career in 1980, working as an engineer and later a chief engineer at the Kirghiz SSR Ministry of Communications until 1983. From 1983 to 1987, he served in the Secretariat of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Kirghiz SSR. Subsequently, from 1987 to 1989, he was the First Deputy Chairman of the Pervomaisky District Executive Committee in Frunze (now Bishkek). In 1989, Atambayev founded "Forum," Kyrgyzstan's first private enterprise. His business ventures were highly successful, reportedly contributing as much as 20% of the country's GDP through taxes, comparable to the Kumtor Gold Mine. He accumulated significant wealth through his businesses in Russia and Turkey. However, around 2002, several of his businesses faced closures or forced sales, which Atambayev attributed to pressure from the administration of then-President Askar Akayev.

3.1. Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan Activities

In 1993, Almazbek Atambayev became one of the founding members of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK). He served as the party's Chairman from July 30, 1999, until September 23, 2011. Under his leadership, the SDPK actively fought for the establishment of the rule of law and justice, attracting broad public support. The party's ideology and activities were centered on promoting democratic change and human rights in Kyrgyzstan. From 1995 to 2000, Atambayev served as a deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh, the Kyrgyz legislature. From December 24, 2008, he was a member of the Political Bureau of the "United National Movement," and became its Chairman on September 9, 2009.

3.2. Government Participation and Protests

Atambayev first ran as a presidential candidate in the October 2000 election, receiving 6% of the vote. He later served as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism in the Government of Kyrgyzstan from December 20, 2005, until his resignation on April 21, 2006. In November 2006, he emerged as a prominent leader of anti-government protests in Bishkek, organized under the banner of the 'For Reform!' movement. He had also participated in earlier protests in April 2006. In December 2006, Atambayev publicly rejected calls for the dissolution of the Supreme Council, warning of potential "war" in Kyrgyzstan if an authoritarian constitution were illegally adopted, and vowed to resist such measures through all possible protest actions.

3.3. Tulip Revolution

Almazbek Atambayev played a pivotal role in the Tulip Revolution of March 2005, a significant event that led to the overthrow of President Askar Akayev. The tulip was a symbol associated with the Kyrgyz Social Democratic Party during this period. Atambayev's active participation in the protests and his decisive speeches against corruption and authoritarianism positioned him as a leading force for democratic change. Under his leadership, the Social Democratic Party actively supported and mobilized protesters, becoming one of the key organizers of the mass rallies that ultimately led to Akayev's ouster. Atambayev utilized his platform to advocate for democratic reforms and the improvement of human rights across the country.

4.1. 2007 Premiership

Following the resignation of Prime Minister Azim Isabekov on March 29, 2007, Almazbek Atambayev was appointed acting Prime Minister by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. His appointment was confirmed by the parliament on March 30 with a vote of 48-3, making him the first prime minister in Central Asia to come from an opposition party. On April 11, he attempted to address a large protest in Bishkek demanding Bakiyev's resignation but was booed by the demonstrators. Atambayev's government resigned on October 24, 2007, following a constitutional referendum, though it was expected to remain in office until the parliamentary election in December. However, Atambayev officially resigned on November 28, 2007. President Bakiyev accepted his resignation, praising his performance, and appointed Acting First Deputy Prime Minister Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev in his place. Edil Baisalov of the Social Democratic Party claimed that Atambayev was forced out of office because he was an obstacle to alleged government interference in the parliamentary election.

4.2. 2010-2011 Premiership

On April 6, 2010, anti-government protests escalated into riots, leading President Bakiyev to flee Bishkek on April 8. In response, an interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva was formed, with Atambayev appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. He resigned from this position on July 13, 2010. Following the 2010 Kyrgyz parliamentary election, Atambayev was again chosen to serve as Prime Minister, leading a coalition government that included his SDPK, Respublika, and Ata-Zhurt, which had won a plurality in the election. He assumed office on December 17, 2010. In August 2011, Atambayev announced his candidacy for the 2011 Kyrgyz presidential election to succeed Roza Otunbayeva. During the election campaign, Omurbek Babanov served as acting Prime Minister. On election day, October 30, 2011, Atambayev won by a landslide, securing 63% of the vote against opponents Adakhan Madumarov and Kamchybek Tashiev, with approximately 60% voter turnout. He resigned as Prime Minister upon his presidential inauguration.

5.1. Inauguration

Almazbek Atambayev was inaugurated as President on December 1, 2011, at the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic Hall in Bishkek. The ceremony was attended by several international dignitaries, including the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade, and President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili. High-level Russian officials, including the head of the Presidential Administration of Russia Sergey Naryshkin and the Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov, were expected but sent lower-level representatives. During his inaugural speech, Atambayev declared, "Today we are writing a new story. This is not the history of the president, but a new history of our country." The inauguration ceremony's budget was notably modest, costing less than half of what was spent for Kurmanbek Bakiyev's inauguration in August 2009, amounting to approximately 10.00 M KGS. Unlike the breastplates used for the inaugurations of Akayev, Bakiyev, and Otunbayeva, which were adorned with diamonds and pearls, the jewelers opted not to use such gems in the 108-centimeter-long breastplate, considering them an "imported" element in the national culture.

Prominent international figures offered their perspectives on Atambayev's presidential term. George Soros spoke positively, stating that "Kyrgyzstan was lucky to have a non-corrupt president," emphasizing the positive impact of a non-corrupt leader on the country's democratic development. Alexander Soros also praised the digitalization efforts of the Kyrgyz government in the Taza Koom project. Vladimir Putin characterized Atambayev as a person who "keeps his word... It is sometimes difficult to agree on something with him, but if something has already been agreed, he goes to the end in fulfilling the agreements reached." At the end of Atambayev's presidential term, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Kyrgyzstan and affirmed that "Kyrgyzstan and the people of the country are committed to the ideas of the rule of human rights, democracy, and this was actually an important choice for the Kyrgyz people." Atambayev notably chose to step down after his single presidential term, adhering to the Constitution, despite requests from Vladimir Putin and Nursultan Nazarbayev to remain in power. He explained his decision by stating, "Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev asked me to stay for a second term, but I explained that I could not, because we have a different people. People will choose the one whom they consider the most worthy."

5.2. Domestic Policy

Atambayev's domestic policies focused on strengthening governance, electoral integrity, social equality, and national security.

5.2.2. Introduction of Biometric Election System

A significant achievement during Atambayev's presidency was the introduction of biometric passports and a biometric electoral system, which dramatically enhanced election transparency and prevented individuals from voting multiple times by requiring fingerprint identification. The 2014 law "On Biometric Registration of Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic" was crucial in developing the framework for democratic elections. The European Union provided assistance to Kyrgyzstan in organizing the 2015 parliamentary elections, which were widely recognized as fair and competitive. Atambayev secured this assistance during his 2013 visit to Brussels, where he held discussions with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. Federica Mogherini, during her 2017 visit to Kyrgyzstan, specifically acknowledged Atambayev's "indisputable merits in the comprehensive improvement of the electoral process in the republic, as well as the development of democratic institutions."

5.3. Foreign Policy

Atambayev's foreign policy sought to balance relations with major global powers and regional partners while asserting Kyrgyzstan's sovereignty and economic interests.

5.3.2. Relations with CIS Countries and Others

In 2011, shortly after becoming president, Atambayev traveled to Turkey and signed an agreement with the Turkish President, Abdullah Gül, to increase trade from 300.00 M USD in 2011 to 1.00 B USD by 2015. Turkey also committed to attracting 450.00 M USD in Turkish investment to Kyrgyzstan within a few years. In 2013, Atambayev launched a strong criticism against the United Kingdom, accusing it of undermining democracy by hosting Maxim Bakiyev, the son of former President Bakiyev, in London. He questioned the UK's double standards, stating, "Is Britain hosting the kids of [Muammar] Gaddafi or Bashar al-Assad? Why are there double standards against Kyrgyzstan? Britain is saying: 'We want to help with democratic development in Kyrgyzstan.' That's a lie. You're hosting a guy who robbed us. We could use that money to fund fair elections."

In February 2015, tensions arose with Belarus following the death of Almanbet Anapiyaev, which Atambayev attributed solely to former Security Service chief Janish Bakiyev, who was being sheltered in Minsk alongside his father. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry dismissed the statement as not warranting a comment. In May 2015, during a Victory Day meeting of CSTO leaders in Moscow, Atambayev engaged in an argument with Uzbek President Islam Karimov regarding Central Asia's water resources. Later that year, he met with Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei in Iran, emphasizing that "Iran and Kyrgyzstan are two brotherly nations with a common religion, history and culture and there is a spirit of pursuing freedom and independence among both nations."
On September 13, 2013, Atambayev hosted the SCO summit in Bishkek. In August 2015, he attended China's V-Day parade in Beijing and reviewed the Kyrgyz military parade. In May 2017, he attended the Belt and Road Forum in China. He also visited Japan in February 2013 and met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

During the 2017 Kyrgyz presidential election, Atambayev accused Kazakhstan of sponsoring one of the presidential candidates, Ömürbek Babanov, and further alleged corruption among Kazakh officials for looting pensioners' incomes. On October 9, 2017, Atambayev announced his refusal to attend the CIS heads of state summit in Sochi, which would have required him to meet with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. In the same month, he made a breakthrough visit to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, a significant diplomatic gesture for a Kyrgyz leader. Atambayev also oversaw Kyrgyzstan's entry into the Customs Union and secured the withdrawal of the American military base from the country in 2014. He emphasized the need for closer economic relations with the Russian Federation, where at least 500,000 Kyrgyz citizens are employed, while also expressing a desire for greater economic and energy independence from Russia. Atambayev firmly stated that the Russian military base would also be withdrawn from Kyrgyzstan, asserting that "In the future, Kyrgyzstan should rely and hope only on its armed forces, and not on the military bases of Russia, America or another country. We must build our own army." In early 2012, during a visit to Moscow, he called for Russia to pay the 15.00 M USD owed to Kyrgyzstan for its use of the Kant airbase.

5.4. Key Policies and Initiatives

Atambayev's presidency saw the implementation of specific policies and initiatives aimed at cultural preservation and historical commemoration.

5.4.1. Launch of the World Nomad Games

Atambayev was a strong proponent of the World Nomad Games, supporting their launch in 2014 with the aim of preserving and popularizing the nomadic traditions of Central Asia. The Games quickly became a significant international platform for showcasing the cultural heritage, sports skills, and traditional sports of nomadic nations, thereby fostering cultural ties and mutual understanding among peoples from different countries. The project received support from UNESCO. The first three editions of the World Nomad Games were held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The fourth games took place in Iznik, Turkey, from September 29 to October 2, 2022, and the 2024 games are scheduled for Astana, Kazakhstan, from September 8-13. To popularize the event, Atambayev personally led the Kyrgyz national team at the opening ceremonies of the first two World Nomad Games in 2014 and 2016.

6.1. Criticism of the Jeenbekov Government

After leaving office on November 24, 2017, and peacefully transferring the presidency to his successor and former prime minister, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Atambayev resumed his role as head of the SDPK. In his post-presidency, he re-entered the political arena, most notably by publicly criticizing his own successor. This criticism, which began in the spring of 2018, primarily centered on Jeenbekov's alleged establishment of a "family clan regime," marked by nepotism and corruption. Media reports at the time frequently highlighted the extensive network of Jeenbekov's relatives holding high positions within the state apparatus, embassies, and parliament. On March 17, 2019, Atambayev publicly expressed regret, stating, "I apologize to everyone for bringing this person to power."

6.2. Stripping of Immunity and Detention

In June 2019, MPs in Kyrgyzstan voted to strip Atambayev of his presidential immunity, paving the way for criminal charges against him. This move followed a public statement in February by Erkinbek Mamyrov, the Head of the Constitutional Chamber, who asserted that "there is no retroactivity of law" and that Atambayev could not be deprived of presidential immunity in accordance with the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on Guarantees for the Activities of the President. For these statements, Mamyrov was subsequently replaced by an assistant to President Jeenbekov's brother, Asylbek Jeenbekov, in parliament. In response, Atambayev stated from his residence in Koy-Tash that he would await the decision of the Constitutional Chamber and defend his constitutional rights, declaring, "The Constitutional Court must put an end to the question of the legality or illegality of interrogation." He vowed to "stand to the end" against Jeenbekov's alleged family clan regime. At that time, he remained under the protection of state security officers while his complaint to the Constitutional Court was under consideration. On July 3, Atambayev left his residence for the first time in weeks to address a rally of 1,000 supporters who demanded that all charges be dropped. On July 24, he began a two-day visit to Russia with an SDPK delegation, departing from Kant Air Base on a Sukhoi Superjet 100. During this visit, he met with President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.

6.3. Imprisonment and Health Concerns

On August 7, 2019, the Special Forces of Kyrgyzstan launched an attack on Atambayev's residence in Bishkek. This raid resulted in the death of one soldier and injuries to hundreds of civilians and military personnel. During a meeting of the Security Council, President Jeenbekov accused Atambayev of "rudely violating the constitution." A second raid was conducted the following day, after which Atambayev surrendered to security forces. On August 9, 2019, special forces illegally seized the office of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan and the April TV channel, which broadcast opposition views. All party documents, organizational equipment, and other property belonging to the SDPK were illegally confiscated. The special services, having obtained information about SDPK members nationwide from party computers and servers, began summoning all members for interrogations and exerted strong pressure on them. Subsequently, 1,700 individuals submitted an appeal to the General Prosecutor's Office of the Kyrgyz Republic, requesting the initiation of a criminal case against President Sooronbai Jeenbekov for his illegal actions. In response, these 1,700 individuals were themselves summoned for interrogations and subjected to intense pressure, including warnings and threats. On August 13, Orozbek Opumbayev, the head of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), stated that Atambayev was plotting to overthrow the government before his detention. Kursan Asanov, the vice-minister of Internal Affairs and head of Atambayev's arrest operation, later revealed that during the August 2019 storming of Atambayev's residence in Koy-Tash, where over a thousand law enforcement representatives were present, there was an order "not to take ex-president Atambayev alive." The population, particularly in the Chüy Valley, largely supported Atambayev, viewing the accusations against him and the attacks on the SDPK as political pressure on the opposition.

On June 23, 2020, Atambayev was sentenced to 11 years in jail for corruption in the "Batukaev case." He had initially been imprisoned in August 2019 on charges of corruption and manslaughter, though he was later acquitted of these specific charges. On October 5, 2020, during the 2020 Kyrgyzstani protests, election protestors freed him from prison. However, after surviving an assassination attempt on October 8, he was re-imprisoned on October 10 for his alleged participation in the turmoil of the Kyrgyz Revolution of 2020, but was later acquitted of these criminal charges as well. Ultimately, Atambayev was acquitted in all criminal cases against him in February 2023.

During his imprisonment, Atambayev faced severe health challenges and alleged mistreatment. On March 23, 2022, his spine was damaged due to violence by prison guards, and numerous abrasions and signs of beatings were found on his body. This was confirmed on March 25 by the state National Center for the Prevention of Torture of the Kyrgyz Republic and subsequently by a medical examination at the National Center for Cardiology. Atambayev was denied not only treatment but also a thorough medical examination for an extended period. It was only after Socialist International Secretary General Luis Ayala made a special visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2022 and the Socialist International issued a special statement that Atambayev was briefly transferred to a clinic for examination. He was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus and required two surgical operations on his esophagus, but these were not carried out while he was in detention.

6.4. International Support

Almazbek Atambayev's legal and health issues garnered significant international attention and support. On July 8, 2022, the Council of the Socialist International, representing 63 political parties worldwide, issued a statement asserting that "the manner in which the former president has been detained, tried and sentenced contravenes his legal and human rights as a defendant, violates the Kyrgyz Code of Criminal Procedure and breaches international judicial norms." The organization further noted that the actions of the armed forces against civilians in Koi-Tash on August 7-8, which resulted in severe injuries and the use of brute force against 1,700 civilians, could fall under the articles of "war crime" and "crime against humanity," warranting an international investigation. His son, Kadyrbek Atambaev, spoke about the torture his father endured at the Socialist International Congress. Following sustained efforts, including support from Socialist International President and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, Atambayev was eventually released and transported to Spain for necessary medical operations. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also sent a New Year 2020 greeting card to Atambayev's family while he was still incarcerated.

8.1. Kyrgyzstan

8.2. Foreign honors