Almazbek Atambayev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Almazbek Atambayev
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Алмазбек Атамбаев
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Atambayev in 2017
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| 4th President of Kyrgyzstan | |
| In office 1 December 2011 – 24 November 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Omurbek Babanov Aaly Karashev (Acting) Zhantoro Satybaldiyev Djoomart Otorbaev Temir Sariyev Sooronbay Jeenbekov Muhammetkaliy Abulgaziyev (Acting) Sapar Isakov |
| Preceded by | Roza Otunbayeva |
| Succeeded by | Sooronbay Jeenbekov |
| 11th Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan | |
| In office 14 November 2011 – 1 December 2011 |
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| President | Roza Otunbayeva |
| Preceded by | Omurbek Babanov (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Omurbek Babanov |
| In office 17 December 2010 – 23 September 2011 |
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| President | Roza Otunbayeva |
| Preceded by | Daniar Usenov |
| Succeeded by | Omurbek Babanov (Acting) |
| In office 29 March 2007 – 28 November 2007 |
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| President | Kurmanbek Bakiyev |
| Preceded by | Azim Isabekov |
| Succeeded by | Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev
17 September 1956 Arashan, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union (now Kyrgyzstan) |
| Political party | Social Democrats |
| Other political affiliations |
Social Democratic Party (membership suspended as of May 2019) |
| Spouse | Raisa Atambayeva |
| Children | 10 |
| Residences |
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| Alma mater | State University of Management |
| Website | http://atambaev.kg/ |
Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev (born 17 September 1956) is a politician from Kyrgyzstan. He served as the fourth President of Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2017. Before that, he was the Prime Minister several times. He also led the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) for many years.
Unlike many leaders in Central Asia, Almazbek Atambayev did not try to stay in power longer than the Constitution allowed. He peacefully handed over power to the next president. This was a first for modern Central Asia. During his time as president, Kyrgyzstan changed its Constitution to give more power to the parliament. The country also started using a special biometric system for elections, which was supported by the European Union.
Contents
About Almazbek Atambayev's Life
Almazbek Atambayev was born in 1956 in the northern Chüy area of Kyrgyzstan. His father, Sharshen Atambayev, fought in World War II. Almazbek studied economics at the Moscow Institute of Management. He has four children from his first marriage. In 1988, he married his second wife, Raisa, who is a doctor. They have six children together. His daughter, Aliya Shagieva, is a well-known artist in Kyrgyzstan.
Early Political Career (2000–2010)
Atambayev ran for president in 2000 but did not win. He later served as the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism from 2005 to 2006.
In 2006, he was a leader in protests against the government in Bishkek. He believed that the parliament should not be dissolved too soon. He warned that dissolving it could cause problems in Kyrgyzstan.
In March 2007, Atambayev became the acting Prime Minister. He was later confirmed by the parliament. He was the first Prime Minister in Central Asia to come from an opposition party. He resigned in November 2007.
Almazbek Atambayev played a big part in the Tulip Revolution of 2005. This event led to a change in leadership in Kyrgyzstan. He led the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan and spoke out against corruption. His party helped organize large protests. These protests eventually led to the removal of President Askar Akayev. Atambayev pushed for democratic changes and better human rights.
He ran for president again in 2009. However, he withdrew his candidacy on election day. He said there was "widespread fraud" and that the elections were unfair.
Becoming Prime Minister and President (2010–2011)
After the 2010 parliamentary election, Atambayev became Prime Minister again. He led a government made up of several parties.
In 2011, he ran for president to take over from Roza Otunbayeva. On October 30, 2011, he won the election by a large margin. He received 63% of the votes.
Presidency (2011–2017)
Starting as President
Almazbek Atambayev became president on December 1, 2011. His inauguration ceremony took place in Bishkek. Leaders from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia attended the event. He said in his speech, "Today we are writing a new story. This is not the history of the president, but a new history of our country." The ceremony cost less than previous ones.
Views on His Presidency
George Soros said that Kyrgyzstan was lucky to have a president who was not involved in corruption. This was seen as good for the country's democracy. Vladimir Putin described Atambayev as someone who "keeps his word." He said that once Atambayev agreed to something, he would see it through.
At the end of Atambayev's presidency, António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, visited Kyrgyzstan. He said that the people of Kyrgyzstan were dedicated to human rights and democracy.
Changes in Kyrgyzstan
In 2015, the Ministry of Defense was reorganized. Its powers were given to the General Staff of the Armed Forces. In 2016, Atambayev ended the use of military courts in Kyrgyzstan. He also oversaw a vote on changes to the Constitution. These changes aimed to give more power to the Prime Minister and parliament. They also reformed the justice system. These changes were approved by nearly 80% of the people. Experts saw these changes as a way to make the government more stable.
Atambayev chose not to run for a second presidential term. He followed the Constitution, even though some leaders like Vladimir Putin and Nursultan Nazarbayev asked him to stay. He said, "We have a different people. People will choose the one whom they consider the most worthy."
Improving Media Freedom
During Atambayev's presidency, Kyrgyzstan made big improvements in media freedom. According to Reporters Without Borders, Kyrgyzstan moved up 70 places in their rankings from 2010 to 2017. This was a huge step forward for freedom of speech. By 2017, Kyrgyzstan's media freedom score was similar to some European Union countries. This progress was due to press freedom and government reforms.
Supporting Gender Equality
Under Almazbek Atambayev, Kyrgyzstan made important progress in gender equality. A rule was set that 33% of parliamentary candidates must be women. Also, 30% of local council members had to be women. This helped more women get involved in politics.
For the first time, women were appointed to very high positions. These included General Prosecutor and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
New laws were passed to support mothers and families. Mother's Day became a national holiday. Many health centers for women and children were built across the country.
Atambayev also supported a secular government. This means keeping religion separate from the state. He defended the right of Kyrgyz women to dress as they wished. He said that true religion is about kindness, not forcing people to wear certain clothes.
Fairer Elections with Biometrics
A major achievement during Atambayev's time was the introduction of biometric passports and a biometric election system. This system made elections more transparent. It stopped people from voting multiple times by requiring fingerprint identification. This greatly improved the fairness of voting.
The European Union helped Kyrgyzstan with its parliamentary elections in 2015. These elections were seen as fair. Atambayev arranged this help during his visits to Brussels.
Federica Mogherini, a European Union official, praised Atambayev in 2017. She recognized his efforts to improve elections and democratic systems in Kyrgyzstan.
International Relations
Soon after becoming president, Atambayev visited Turkey. They agreed to increase trade and Turkish investments in Kyrgyzstan. Atambayev visited Brussels, Belgium, four times as president. He also toured several European countries in 2015. During these trips, many agreements were made to improve relations. The EU provided significant financial support to Kyrgyzstan for education and rural development.
Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, visited Kyrgyzstan in 2015. This was her first visit to the country and to Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan also gained GSP+ status with the European Union in 2015. This status requires Kyrgyzstan to follow 27 international agreements, including those on human rights.
Atambayev also spoke out against the United Kingdom. He accused them of undermining democracy by hosting Maxim Bakiyev, who was accused of corruption.
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In 2015, Atambayev had a disagreement with the President of Uzbekistan about water resources. Later that year, he met with Ali Khamenei, the leader of Iran. He emphasized the shared history and culture between Iran and Kyrgyzstan.
During the 2017 presidential election, Atambayev accused Kazakhstan of supporting one of the candidates. He also criticized Kazakh officials for corruption. In October 2017, he visited the Uzbek capital of Tashkent. This was an important visit for a Kyrgyz leader.
Atambayev announced Kyrgyzstan's entry into the Customs Union. He also ensured that the American military base left the country in 2014. He wanted closer economic ties with Russia but also aimed for more economic independence. He stated that Kyrgyzstan should rely on its own armed forces, not foreign military bases.
Remembering History
Almazbek Atambayev was the only Central Asian president to honor the victims of the 1916 massacre. This event, known as the Urkun or Central Asian Revolt, was a sad part of the region's history. A monument was opened to remember these events. Atambayev's actions showed respect for history and helped strengthen national identity. In 2016, leaders from Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Armenia, and Moldova laid flowers at the memorial.
In 2017, Atambayev signed a law creating the "Day of History and Remembrance of Ancestors." This day is celebrated on November 7–8. In 2015, Atambayev stopped using the Ribbon of Saint George as a symbol. This was done to remember the 1916 uprising.
World Nomad Games
Atambayev supported the creation of the World Nomad Games in 2014. This event helps preserve and popularize the nomadic traditions of Central Asia. The games showcase cultural heritage and traditional sports of nomadic peoples. This helps strengthen cultural ties between different countries. UNESCO also supported this project.
The first three World Nomad Games were held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. Atambayev personally led the Kyrgyz national team at the opening ceremonies in 2014 and 2016.
After Presidency (2017–Present)
After leaving office in November 2017, Atambayev became the head of the SDPK. He began to criticize his successor, Sooronbay Jeenbekov. He said that Jeenbekov was creating a "family clan regime." In March 2018, he apologized for bringing Jeenbekov to power.
In June 2019, lawmakers voted to remove Atambayev's presidential immunity. This allowed criminal charges to be pursued against him. Atambayev stated he would wait for the Constitutional Chamber's decision. He said he was ready to "fight back" if police acted illegally.
On July 24, 2019, Atambayev visited Russia and met with President Vladimir Putin.
Safety Challenges
While serving as Prime Minister in 2007, Atambayev faced a health challenge. Turkish doctors later confirmed he had been affected by an unknown substance. Atambayev believed this was due to his efforts to nationalize a factory. He suggested that people from the presidential administration might have been involved.
In 2009, during his presidential campaign, he faced another health issue before a meeting. He felt very unwell and had to receive treatment in Turkey again.
In August 2019, during an operation to arrest him at his home, a special forces leader stated there was an order "not to take ex-president Atambayev alive." During protests in October 2020, Atambayev's car was shot at.
Legal Challenges and Protests
In August 2019, special forces attacked Atambayev's home. One soldier died, and many civilians and military personnel were injured. Atambayev later surrendered to security forces. His party's office and a TV channel were also seized. Many people who supported Atambayev were called in for questioning.
In June 2020, Atambayev was sentenced to 11 years in jail for corruption. However, in November 2020, the Supreme Court overturned this verdict. They found that the trial had many serious procedural errors.
2020 Protests and Release
On October 5, 2020, protests broke out in Bishkek against the results of the parliamentary election. Protesters freed Atambayev from prison. However, he was imprisoned again on October 10 for his involvement in the protests. He was later cleared of criminal charges related to these events.
In August 2019, Atambayev was imprisoned on charges of corruption and manslaughter. He was later acquitted of these charges. In March 2022, Atambayev's spine was injured while in prison. Medical examinations confirmed injuries and marks on his body. He was denied proper medical treatment for a long time.
In 2023, Atambayev was released from prison for medical reasons. He then went to Spain for treatment. In 2025, a court in Kyrgyzstan sentenced him in his absence to 11 years in prison for other charges, including illegally acquiring land.
International Support
In July 2022, the Council of Socialist International (a group of political parties worldwide) stated that Atambayev's detention and trial violated his legal and human rights. They noted that he needed two operations on his esophagus, but these were not performed. He was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus. With the support of the Socialist International President and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, Atambayev was transported to Spain for medical operations. He was acquitted in all criminal cases against him.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel sent New Year greetings to Atambayev in 2020, while he was still in prison.
Awards and Honors
From Kyrgyzstan
- Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic (2017)
- Order "Danaker" (2007) - For his work in social and economic development.
- Order "Manas" II Class (2011) - For his role in democratic reforms and the 2010 People's Revolution.
- Dank Medal (1999) - For his work in industrial production.
From Other Countries
- Presidential Order of Excellence (Georgia, 2013)
- Order of Dostyk I degree (Kazakhstan, 2014) - For helping friendship between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
- Order of Alexander Nevsky (Russia, 2016) - For strengthening cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
- Order "Friend of Azerbaijan" (Azerbaijan, 2016)
- Fascia dell'Ordine della Repubblica di Serbia (Serbia) (2013) - For developing friendly relations between Serbia and Kyrgyzstan.
See also
In Spanish: Almazbek Atambáyev para niños
