Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Kurmanbek Bakiyev Курманбек Бакиев Курманбек Бакиев | |
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President of Kyrgyzstan | |
Assumed office 25 March 2005 Acting until 15 August 2005 | |
Prime Minister | Medetbek Kerimkulov Felix Kulov Azim Isabekov Almazbek Atambayev Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev Igor Chudinov |
Preceded by | Askar Akayev |
Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan | |
In office 21 December 2000 – 22 May 2002 | |
President | Askar Akayev |
Preceded by | Amangeldy Muraliyev |
Succeeded by | Nikolai Tanayev |
In office 25 March 2005 – 20 June 2005 Acting until 28 March 2005 | |
Preceded by | Nikolai Tanayev |
Succeeded by | Medetbek Kerimkulov |
In office 10 July 2005 – 15 August 2005 | |
Preceded by | Medetbek Kerimkulov |
Succeeded by | Felix Kulov |
Personal details | |
Born | Masadan, Soviet Union (now Kyrgyzstan) | 1 August 1949
Political party | Bright Path |
Spouse | Tatyana Bakiyeva |
Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev (Kyrgyz: Курманбек Сали уулу Бакиев (Kurmanbek Sali Uulu Bakiev), Russian: Курманбек Салиевич Бакиев; born 1 August, 1949) is the President of Kyrgyzstan. The Legislative Assembly of Kyrgyzstan of the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan appointed him acting President on 24 March, 2005 following the ousting, during the Tulip Revolution, of President Askar Akayev.
Bakiyev was the leader of the People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan before his ascendance to the presidency. He gets most of his popular support from the south of the country. In October 2007 Bakiyev initiated the creation of Ak Jol party, but could not lead it due to his presidency[1].
Early life and career
Bakiyev was born in Masadan, Jalal-Abad Province, of the now former Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic, of the Soviet Union. In 1972, Bakiyev graduated from the Kuybyshev Polytechnic Institute as an electrical engineer; from 1974 to 1976 he served in the Soviet Army. By 1979 he was deputy chief engineer at a factory in Jalalabad, and by 1990 had risen to factory director, when he left to begin a political career. Initially first secretary of the Kok-Yangak city council, he later rose to chairman of the supreme soviet for that city, then deputy chairman for the Jalalabad region.
Prime Minister
In 1995 Bakiyev was appointed Provincial Governor of Jalal-Abad Province. He later served as Governor of Chui Province from April 1997 to December 2000 and as Prime Minister from December 21, 2000, to May 22, 2002, but resigned that position in the aftermath of riot police having shot and killed five anti-Akayev protesters in the southern Kyrgyz town of Aksy.
Tulip Revolution
Following the events of the 2005 Tulip Revolution, Bakiyev won the 10 July ballot for the Presidential election with 89% of the vote with a 53% turnout.[2] This overwhelming electoral success is partly due to the political alliance with Felix Kulov who Bakiyev appointed Prime Minister soon after the election. However wide spread election fraud had been reported by many US and NGO election observers. Bakiyev was inaugurated on 14 August in Bishkek.
President
Bakiyev's term in office has been marred by the murder of several prominent politicians, prison riots, economic ills and battles for control of lucrative businesses despite initial hopes.[3][4][5][6] In 2006, Bakiyev faced a political crisis as thousands of people participated in a series of protests in Bishkek. He was accused of not following through with his promises to limit presidential power, give more authority to parliament and the prime minister, and eradicate corruption and crime. Bakiyev claimed that the opposition was plotting a coup against him.[7][8]
In April 2007, the opposition held protests demanding Bakiyev's resignation,[9] with a large protest beginning on April 11 in Bishkek. Bakiyev signed constitutional amendments to reduce his own power on April 10, but the protest went ahead, with protesters saying that they would remain until he resigned.[10] Clashes broke out between protesters and police on April 19, after which the protests ended.[11]
Bakiyev is running for reelection in the 2009 Kyrgyzstani presidential election.
References
- ^ After years of turmoil, Kyrgyz voters go to the polls UNHCR Refworld
- ^ Bakiev sworn in as Kyrgyz leader BBC News
- ^ Kyrgyz jail unrest claims lives BBC News
- ^ Kyrgyz rally against corruption BBC News
- ^ Kyrgyz MP shot dead in Bishkek BBC News
- ^ Clashes erupt in Kyrgyz capital BBC News
- ^ Thousands rally against Kyrgyz leader Al Jazeera
- ^ Kyrgyzstan brings coup charges Al Jazeera
- ^ "Kyrgyzstan: Protests Gain Steam Ahead Of Major Antigovernment Rally", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 9, 2007.
- ^ "Kyrgyz opposition stages large rally against embattled president", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), April 11, 2007.
- ^ "Kyrgyzstan: Overnight Violence Halts Bishkek Rallies", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 20, 2007.
External links
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