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 (Kyrgyz: Алмазбек Шаршенович Атамбаев; born 17 September 1956) is a politician from Kyrgyzstan. He served as the President of Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2017. Before that, he was the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan multiple times.
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 made changes to its Constitution. These changes gave more power to the parliament. He also introduced a new system for elections using fingerprints, which was supported by the European Union.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Almazbek Atambayev was born in 1956 in the Chüy region of Kyrgyzstan. His father, Sharshen Atambayev, fought in World War II. Atambayev studied economics at the Moscow Institute of Management.
He has four children from his first marriage. In 1988, he married his second wife, Raisa. Together, they have six children. Raisa is a doctor. His daughter, Aliya Shagieva, is a well-known artist in Kyrgyzstan.
Political Journey
Early 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 became 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, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev appointed Atambayev as acting Prime Minister. He was the first prime minister from an opposition party in Central Asia. However, he resigned in November 2007.
Almazbek Atambayev was a key figure in the Tulip Revolution of 2005. This event aimed to bring democratic changes to Kyrgyzstan. He led the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) and spoke out against corruption. His party helped organize large protests that led to the removal of President Askar Akayev. Atambayev pushed for democratic reforms and better human rights.
In 2009, Atambayev ran for president again. However, he withdrew his candidacy on election day. He claimed there was "widespread fraud" and said the elections were unfair.
Becoming Prime Minister and President (2010–2011)
After the 2010 parliamentary election, Atambayev became Prime Minister. He led a government made up of different political 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)
Taking Office
Atambayev became president on December 1, 2011. His inauguration ceremony took place in Bishkek. Leaders from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia attended the event. The ceremony cost much less than previous ones.
Key Policies
During his presidency, Atambayev made several important changes. In 2015, he changed the Ministry of Defense into the State Committee for Defense Affairs. This moved control of the military to the General Staff. In 2016, he stopped the use of military courts in Kyrgyzstan.
He also oversaw a constitutional referendum in 2016. This vote aimed to give more power to the Prime Minister and parliament. It also included changes to 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 also worked to promote gender equality. He supported quotas to ensure more women were in parliament and local councils. This helped create a more balanced government. He also supported a secular policy, meaning he kept religion separate from the state.
Fair Elections
A major achievement during Atambayev's time was the introduction of biometric passports and a biometric election system. This system uses fingerprints to ensure that each person votes only once. This made elections much more transparent and reduced cheating. The European Union helped Kyrgyzstan with these changes.
Federica Mogherini, a high-ranking official from the European Union, praised Atambayev. She said he had "indisputable merits" in improving elections and developing democracy in Kyrgyzstan.
International Relations
Soon after becoming president, Atambayev visited Turkey. He signed an agreement to increase trade between the two countries. He also visited Brussels, the capital of the European Union, four times. During these visits, he made agreements to strengthen ties in many areas, from culture to business. The EU provided significant financial support to Kyrgyzstan for education, rule of law, and rural development.
In 2015, German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Kyrgyzstan. This was the first visit by a German Chancellor to the country. Kyrgyzstan also gained GSP+ status with the European Union in 2015. This status means Kyrgyzstan must follow 27 international agreements, including those on human rights.
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Atambayev also worked on relations with other countries in the region. He had discussions with leaders from Belarus and Uzbekistan. He also met with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran, emphasizing shared history and culture.
He supported Kyrgyzstan joining the Customs Union. He also ensured the American military base left the country in 2014. Atambayev wanted closer economic ties with Russia, where many Kyrgyz citizens work. However, he also aimed for more economic independence for Kyrgyzstan.
He stated that the Russian military base would also be withdrawn from Kyrgyzstan. In 2012, he asked Russia to pay $15 million for using the Kant airbase.
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 time in the region's history. He opened a monument to remember these events. This showed the importance of remembering history and unity.
In 2016, presidents from Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Armenia, and the Prime Minister of Moldova laid flowers at the memorial. In 2017, Atambayev signed a law to create the "Day of History and Remembrance of Ancestors," celebrated on November 7–8.
In 2015, Atambayev decided not to use the Ribbon of Saint George as a symbol for the 1916 uprising. This ribbon is often used in post-Soviet countries. This decision caused some protests among Russian-speaking people in Kyrgyzstan.
World Nomad Games
Atambayev strongly supported the creation of the World Nomad Games in 2014. The goal was to keep and share the nomadic traditions of Central Asia. These games showcase the culture, sports, and traditional activities of nomadic peoples. They help 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 to promote the event.
After Presidency (2017–present)
After leaving office in November 2017, Atambayev became the head of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK). He began to criticize his successor, Sooronbay Jeenbekov. He claimed that Jeenbekov was creating a "family clan regime." In March 2018, he said, "I apologize to everyone for bringing this person to power."
In June 2019, members of parliament voted to remove Atambayev's presidential immunity. This meant he could face criminal charges. However, a legal expert stated that a law passed in May 2019 meant he could not lose his immunity. Atambayev said he would wait for the court's decision and protect his rights.
In July 2019, Atambayev spoke at a rally of his supporters. They asked for all charges against him to be dropped. He also visited Russia and met with President Vladimir Putin.
Challenges and Legal Issues
During his time as Prime Minister in 2007, Atambayev faced health challenges due to an unknown substance. He suggested that this might be related to his efforts to nationalize a factory.
In 2009, during the presidential elections, Atambayev again felt unwell before a meeting with voters. He experienced dizziness and other symptoms. He later received medical treatment in Turkey.
In August 2019, special forces attacked Atambayev's home in Bishkek. One soldier died, and many civilians and military personnel were injured. President Jeenbekov accused Atambayev of breaking the constitution. Atambayev later surrendered to security forces after a second raid.
On August 9, 2019, the offices of the SDPK and a TV channel were taken by special forces. Party documents and equipment were seized. Many SDPK members were called for questioning. About 1,700 people asked for a criminal case against President Jeenbekov. However, these people were then called for questioning themselves.
In June 2020, Atambayev was sentenced to 11 years in jail for corruption. However, in November 2020, the Supreme Court overturned this verdict. The court found that there were many serious errors in the trial.
On October 5, 2020, protests broke out in Bishkek against the results of the parliamentary election. Protesters freed Atambayev from prison. On October 8, his car was shot at in Bishkek. He was imprisoned again on October 10 but was later cleared of criminal charges related to the protests.
While in prison in March 2022, Atambayev's spine was injured, and he had other injuries. This was confirmed by medical examinations. He was denied proper medical treatment for a long time.
International Support for his Release
In July 2022, the Council of Socialist International, a group of 63 political parties worldwide, stated that Atambayev's detention and trial violated his human rights. They noted that he needed two operations on his esophagus.
With the support of the Socialist International President and Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, Atambayev was later released. He was transported to Spain for medical operations. He was eventually cleared of all criminal charges against him.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel sent New Year greetings to Almazbek Atambayev in 2020, even while he was in prison.
Awards
Kyrgyzstan
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Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic |
| — 27 November 2017 |
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Order "Danaker" |
| "For contribution to the social and economic development of the republic and fruitful work to preserve inter-ethnic harmony" — 28 November 2007 |
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Order "Manas" II Class |
| "For civic responsibility and courage during the years of struggle against the authoritarian family-clan regime, consistent defense of the ideas of democracy, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, active participation in the constitutional reform, the formation of the democratic parliament and also in connection with the successful completion of the transition period after the April 2010 People's Revolution" — 1 December 2011 |
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Dank Medal |
| "For the fruitful activity in the industrial production sector in Kyrgyzstan" — 1999 |
Foreign honors
- Presidential Order of Excellence (Georgia, 2013)
- Order of Dostyk I degree (Kazakhstan, 7 November 2014)
- Order of Alexander Nevsky (Russia, 17 September 2016)
- Order "Friend of Azerbaijan" (Azerbaijan, 2016)
- Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic (2017)
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Fascia dell'Ordine della Repubblica di Serbia (Serbia) |
| "For merits in developing and strengthening peaceful cooperation and friendly relations between Serbia and Kyrgyzstan." — 2013 |
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Ordine dell'amicizia di I Classe (Kazakistan) |
| "For contribution to the development of friendship between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan" — 7 November 2014 |
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| "For outstanding contribution to strengthening diverse cooperation between the Russian Federation and Kyrgyzstan in a spirit of mutual trust and strategic partnership" — 17 September 2016 |
Images for kids
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Attempt to arrest of Atambaev in 2010
See also
In Spanish: Almazbek Atambáyev para niños
