Sadyr Japarov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sadyr Japarov
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Садыр Жапаров
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Official portrait, 2021
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| 6th President of Kyrgyzstan | |
| Assumed office 28 January 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Artem Novikov (acting) Ulukbek Maripov Akylbek Japarov Adylbek Kasymaliev |
| Preceded by | Talant Mamytov (acting) |
| Acting 15 October 2020 – 14 November 2020 |
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| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Sooronbay Jeenbekov |
| Succeeded by | Talant Mamytov (acting) |
| 22nd Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan | |
| In office 6 October 2020 – 14 November 2020 |
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| President | Sooronbay Jeenbekov Himself (acting) Talant Mamytov (acting) |
| Deputy | Artem Novikov |
| Preceded by | Kubatbek Boronov |
| Succeeded by | Artem Novikov (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 December 1968 Keng-Suu, Kyrgyz SSR, Soviet Union (now Kyrgyzstan) |
| Political party | Mekenchil |
| Other political affiliations |
Ata-Zhurt |
| Spouse |
Aigul Asanbaeva
(m. 1991) |
| Residence | Ala Archa State Residence |
| Education | Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University |
Sadyr Nurgojo uulu Japarov (born 6 December 1968) is a politician from Kyrgyzstan. He has been the sixth president of Kyrgyzstan since 28 January 2021. Before becoming president, he served as the 22nd prime minister in 2020. This happened after President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned.
Japarov also became the acting president after Jeenbekov stepped down. However, he resigned on 14 November 2020 to run in the 2021 presidential election. He won this election and took over from the acting president, Talant Mamytov.
Japarov started his political journey in 2005 as a member of the Supreme Council. From 2007, he worked in the president's office under Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Bakiyev was later removed from power in the 2010 Kyrgyz Revolution. After this, Japarov returned to being a member of parliament. He organized large public gatherings. These events led to him leaving Kyrgyzstan in 2013 due to legal issues.
Japarov came back to Kyrgyzstan in 2017. He was arrested and sent to prison for actions he took earlier in his political career. However, his time in prison ended early. His supporters freed him during the 2020 Kyrgyz Revolution. This event helped him rise to power in Kyrgyzstan.
Many people see Japarov's presidency as very strong and centralized. He has gathered a lot of power and limited public disagreement. Before Japarov became president, Kyrgyzstan was known for being more open politically than other countries in Central Asia that were once part of the Soviet Union.
He brought back a presidential system through public votes in 2021. These changes gave the president much more power and reduced the power of the parliament. He also created the People's Kurultai. These changes have led to concerns about democracy in Kyrgyzstan.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Japarov was born on 6 December 1968, in Keng-Suu. This village is in the Tüp District of what was then the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union. His parents were Nurgozho and Kadic Japarov.
After finishing middle school in 1986, he joined the Kyrgyz National Academy of Physical Culture and Sport. In 1987, Japarov joined the Soviet Army. He served for two years in Novosibirsk as a commander in a communications unit. He returned in 1989 with the rank of Junior Sergeant. Japarov continued his studies at the academy until 1991. In 2006, he earned a law degree from the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University in Bishkek.
Beginning of Political Career
Japarov's political career began after the Tulip Revolution in 2005. In March 2005, he was elected to the Supreme Council from the Tüp area. He led a group in parliament called Kelechek. He supported President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
In 2006, Japarov was part of the State Awards Commission. In 2007, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Amnesty Commission. In the 2007 elections, he was on the list for the pro-presidential party Ak Jol. This party won most of the seats in parliament. Japarov then worked as an adviser to the president. From 2008 to 2010, he worked for the National Agency for Preventing Corruption.
Concerns About Issyk-Kul Bank
During his time at the National Agency for Preventing Corruption, Japarov faced accusations. People said he helped the business of Maxim Bakiyev, who was the son of the president at the time. This involved the Issyk-Kul Bank. Japarov's sister, Raikul Japarova, along with a businessman, took control of the bank.
Documents from the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan suggested that Sadyr Japarov and his sister used this bank to handle large sums of money for Maxim Bakiyev. Some reports even mentioned money from illegal activities. In 2020, a former deputy prime minister confirmed these concerns about the bank. He said this was why he refused to work with Japarov in 2020.
After the 2010 Revolution
In 2010, President Bakiyev was removed from power in the Kyrgyz Revolution of 2010. After this, there were ethnic clashes in Osh and Jalal-Abad. Japarov and his friends said they tried to stop these clashes. However, some people accused them of supporting Kyrgyz nationalists and causing conflict.
After the revolution, Japarov was re-elected to the Supreme Council. He was part of the Ata-Zhurt party, which won most seats in the 2010 election. He then became the head of the Committee on Judicial and Legal issues.
In his book, Japarov later mentioned that his party received money from outside the country for the 2010 election. This is against election laws.
Protests and Legal Issues
In 2012, during protests about the Kumtor Gold Mine, some protesters tried to take over the White House in Bishkek. Japarov and his allies were involved. They were charged with trying to take power by force. In March 2013, a court found them guilty and sentenced them to prison. However, in June 2013, a higher court cleared them, and they were released.
In May 2013, after another protest, people in Issyk-Kul villages took over an electrical station. They cut power to a gold mining company. At the same time, some people tried to get money from the Canadian company Centerra Gold to stop the protests.
On 27 June 2013, during protests in Karakol, some protesters tried to take the regional governor hostage. Kyrgyz authorities accused Japarov of organizing this. Protest leaders were arrested, but Japarov, who denied being involved, left Kyrgyzstan and lived in Cyprus for a while.
2017 Arrest and Imprisonment
In 2017, Japarov tried to return to Kyrgyzstan. On 25 March 2017, he was stopped at the border. He was sentenced to 11 years and 6 months in prison for the earlier incident involving the regional governor. While in prison, Japarov started a political party called Mekenchil with Kamchybek Tashiyev. Between 2018 and 2019, his party and supporters grew. They organized protests to demand his release from prison.
Becoming a Leader in Kyrgyzstan
On 5 October 2020, protests began across Kyrgyzstan. People were unhappy with the results of the parliamentary elections.
After Japarov was released from a government building on 6 October, he went to Ala-Too Square in Bishkek. He wanted to become prime minister. Members of parliament approved him that night. However, another candidate claimed to be the rightful leader. Japarov's opponents said the vote was not fair because his supporters were outside the hotel where the vote happened. They also pointed out that not enough members were present for a proper vote.
On 13 October, President Sooronbay Jeenbekov rejected Japarov's appointment. He asked parliament to vote again, which they did the next day. Japarov won the nomination again. Jeenbekov then approved him as prime minister. Japarov then tried to convince the president to step down, which Jeenbekov did on 15 October.
After Jeenbekov resigned, Japarov declared himself acting president. The Kyrgyzstan Constitution says the speaker of the Supreme Council should take over. However, Kanatbek Isaev refused, so Japarov became acting president. Parliament confirmed him as president of Kyrgyzstan on 16 October 2020.
Working with Kamchybek Tashiev
Since coming to power in 2020, Sadyr Japarov appointed his long-time friend Kamchybek Tashiev to lead the State Committee for National Security. This made Tashiev the second most powerful person in Kyrgyzstan.
Changes to the Constitution
Japarov started making changes to the constitution. These changes were criticized by journalists and human rights groups. They said the changes created a very strong presidential system in Kyrgyzstan. The new rules allow a president to serve two terms and greatly reduced the power of parliament. Some people even called the new constitution the "Khan-situation."
Also, the creation of the People's Kurultai was compared to similar councils in other countries. Experts said these changes moved Kyrgyzstan towards a more authoritarian style of leadership. Many Kyrgyz experts, human rights activists, and international groups opposed these changes. After the new constitution was adopted in 2021, Kyrgyzstan's ranking for freedom of speech dropped significantly.
President of Kyrgyzstan (2021–present)
Kumtor Gold Mine
Since 2012, Japarov has supported the idea of the government taking control of the Kumtor Gold Mine. This mine is in his home region of Issyk-Kul Region. He accused the company managing the mine, Centerra Gold, of harming the environment and corruption. His views on this topic made him popular in his region.
On 14 May 2021, he signed a law that allowed the government to temporarily control the mine. In response, Centerra Gold started a legal process against Kyrgyzstan. After the mine was taken over by the government, it became less profitable.
Other Actions as President
Japarov's first five orders as president focused on spiritual development, new rules for government workers, protecting businesses, migration, and mining. On 11 February, Japarov signed a decree to celebrate the 120th birthday of political figure Zhusup Abdrakhmanov.
Foreign Policy
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Japarov has said his government will have a "multipronged" foreign policy. This means working with many different countries. Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are important partners under his leadership.
Japarov has positive views of China. He has described the relationship between China and Kyrgyzstan as being very close. He has stated that both countries are working together to oppose certain groups.
Japarov has suggested that Kyrgyzstan could pay off its debt to China by giving them rights to minerals.
In March 2021, Japarov visited Astana, Kazakhstan. He met with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and former president Nursultan Nazarbayev. They agreed on a plan to make sure Kyrgyzstan has enough energy. Japarov said there were "no political contradictions" between their countries. A week later, he visited Tashkent, Uzbekistan. There, he and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev agreed to solve all border issues quickly.
In June 2021, Sadyr Japarov met with the leader of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. They talked about Turkmenistan supplying Kyrgyzstan with natural gas and electricity. Kyrgyzstan had plans to change its Bishkek power plant from coal to gas. However, the head of the Kyrgyz cabinet later said gas was too expensive.
Relations with Russia
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Japarov has shown a friendly stance towards Russia. His first planned trip to a foreign country as president was to Russia in February 2021.
A report in May 2023 suggested that Kyrgyzstan was helping Russia avoid international restrictions. The report mentioned that Kyrgyzstan exported certain items to Russia that could be used for military purposes. These items included electric parts and equipment. Some goods imported into Kyrgyzstan from Europe were believed to stay in Russia or be sent back to Russia from Kyrgyzstan.
Relations with Tajikistan
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During the 2021 conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Japarov led Kyrgyzstan's response. On 30 April, he spoke with the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon. They agreed to meet in person. Japarov also suggested creating a group of elders from both countries to help keep peace.
Later that day, Japarov spoke to the people of Kyrgyzstan. He asked for calm, especially from young people. He said that Tajikistan's leaders did not want a war. He also accused "certain forces" of causing problems at the border. He declared 1 and 2 May as days of national mourning.
Law on Foreign-Funded Groups
In 2024, Kyrgyzstan passed a new law. This law requires groups that receive money from other countries and are involved in political activities to register with the government. They also have to allow the government to oversee their activities more closely. Human Rights Watch said this law is similar to a previous proposal and to a law in Russia.
Before this law was passed, Russia's Defense Minister had spoken about potential dangers from foreign groups in Central Asia for Russia's interests. Sadyr Japarov strongly supported this new law. The law allows prosecutors to declare foreign groups "undesirable" and close them down. Groups can face large fines and prison time if they do not follow the law.
Concerns About Corruption
Family Appointments
Before becoming president, Japarov often said he did not want his close family members to be involved in politics or hold high government jobs. However, media reports have mentioned that many of Japarov's relatives have received important positions since he became president. For example, a relative became the head of the Accounts Chamber, and another became the head of the State Migration Service. Other relatives were appointed to various government and company roles.
Media Freedom
Since Sadyr Japarov became president, Kyrgyzstan's ranking for freedom of speech has dropped significantly. For example, the Kyrgyz Next TV channel was closed by the authorities. Its director was convicted, and its owner and his wife were imprisoned.
A journalist and activist was arrested for speaking against opening a casino in Kyrgyzstan. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Kempir Abad Case
In October 2022, more than 20 politicians and activists were arrested. These arrests caused strong reactions from human rights groups around the world. These groups said the arrests were wrong. Most of the arrested people are still in detention. After the arrests, Sadyr Japarov told the mothers of the detained activists that they "should have raised their children better."
President Japarov and the head of the special services were seen as supporting the transfer of the Kempir-Abad reservoir to Uzbekistan. The agreement was made secretly, which made the public suspicious. At a public meeting, the head of the special services made threats against politicians. In May 2023, the Human Rights Ombudsman was removed from her position early. This happened after she reported on the increasing pressure on freedom of speech in Kyrgyzstan. Human rights activists believe her removal was linked to her work protecting the rights of those arrested in this case.
Connections to Former President Bakiyev
After coming to power, Sadyr Japarov began appointing people who were close to former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to important positions. For example, Bakiyev's former press secretary became the speaker of parliament. Others close to Bakiyev's family also received government roles.
A friend of Bakiyev's son, who was known for large-scale corruption in the energy sector, was able to return to Kyrgyzstan. He had been wanted by previous authorities but was released after Japarov came to power.
Sadyr Japarov himself faced accusations of helping the business of Bakiyev's son, Maksim Bakiev, through the "Issyk-Kul" bank. His sister was involved in taking control of this bank. Documents suggested that Japarov and his sister handled large sums of money for Maxim Bakiyev through this bank.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev has been living in Belarus since 2010. He fled Kyrgyzstan after losing power. During clashes in 2010, many people died. Even though there were legal cases against Bakiyev's family in Kyrgyzstan, the president of Belarus refused to send him back. Other relatives also moved to Belarus. The Bakiyev family reportedly lives in luxury there and invests in businesses.
Personal Life
Japarov is married to Aigul Japarova (born Asanbaeva), who is five years younger than him. She was born in a village near Japarov's in the Tüp District. When he was acting president, she volunteered to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has four children. His oldest son, Dastan, passed away on 26 August 2019 in an accident. His father and mother died in September 2017 and March 2019, respectively, while Japarov was in prison. He was not allowed to attend their funerals. One of his brothers owns a coal mine in the northern part of the country.
Awards and Honors
- Badge "Excellent Worker of the Soviet Army"
- In 2009, he received a medal from the Issyk-Kul Regional State Administration for his contributions to the region's development.
- In 2010, he was awarded the Medal "For Merit" from the Russian Union of Afghanistan Veterans.
- In 2024, he received the Order of Friendship, 1st class, for helping to develop and strengthen relations between countries.
He also holds the title of:
- Honorary President of the Mixed Martial Arts Federation of Kyrgyzstan
See also
In Spanish: Sadyr Zhaparov para niños
