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Kyrgyzstan

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Kyrgyzstan Main Page
Corruption Allegations Weaken Longtime President
Opposition Challenges President's Motives
Deadly Protests Prompt Resignation of President Bakiyev
Former Prime Minister Elected President

Former Prime Minister Elected President

In Oct. 2011, former Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev was elected president. He received more than 63% of the vote. Many of his opponents claimed the vote was illegal. His opponents' supporters protested immediately following the election--a disappointing reaction after the interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva worked to avoid this outcome by transferring some of the president's powers to parliament.

Atambayev was prime minister until he stepped down in Sept. 2011 to concentrate on his presidential run. He has taken steps to align himself with Russia, backing a bill in 2011 to name a mountain in Kyrgyzstan after Vladimir Putin. Atambayev has also pledged his support for Russian Prime Minister Putin's planned Eurasian Union, a new alliance of former Soviet countries. After his presidential election, Atambayev announced that he will push to close Transit Center at Manas, formerly Manas Air Base, in Kyrgyzstan when the lease is up in 2014. The base has been a crucial supply center for the U.S. in the war in Afghanistan. It is the only one of its kind in Central Asia.

After dissolving his current government and accepting Omurbek Babanov's resignation as prime minister, President Almazbek Atambayev appointed Aaly Karashev as acting prime minister. On Sept. 5, 2012, the parliament approved a new government with Zhantoro Satybaldiyev as prime minister, Erlan Abdyldayev as foreign minister, and Olga Lavrova as finance minister; Taalaybek Omuraliyev remains defense minister, and Zarylbek Rysaliyev interior minister.

See also Encyclopedia: Kyrgyzstan .
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Kyrgyzstan .