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Kurmanbek Bakiyev

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Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Курманбек Бакиев
President of Kyrgyzstan
In office
25 March 2005 – 15 April 2010
Prime MinisterMedetbek Kerimkulov
Felix Kulov
Azim Isabekov
Almazbek Atambayev
Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev
Igor Chudinov
Daniar Usenov
Preceded byIshenbai Kadyrbekov
Head of State (Interim)
Succeeded byRoza Otunbayeva
Head of State (Interim)
Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan
In office
21 December 2000 – 22 May 2002
PresidentAskar Akayev
Preceded byAmangeldy Muraliyev
Succeeded byNikolai Tanayev
In office
25 March 2005 – 20 June 2005
Acting until 28 March 2005
Preceded byNikolai Tanayev
Succeeded byMedetbek Kerimkulov (Acting)
In office
10 July 2005 – 15 August 2005
Preceded byMedetbek Kerimkulov (Acting)
Succeeded byFelix Kulov
Personal details
Born (1949-08-01) 1 August 1949 (age 75)
Masadan, Soviet Union (now Kyrgyzstan)
Political partyAk Jol
SpouseTatyana Bakiyeva
Alma materKuybyshev Polytechnic Institute

Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev (Kyrgyz: Курманбек Сали уулу Бакиев (Kurmanbek Sali Uulu Bakiev), Russian: Курманбек Салиевич Бакиев; born 1 August 1949) is a politician who served as the second President of Kyrgyzstan, serving from 2005 to 2010. Large opposition protests in April 2010 led to the takeover of government offices, forcing Bakiyev to first flee the capital and to resign shortly thereafter.

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.

The Legislative Assembly of Kyrgyzstan of the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan appointed him acting President on March 24, 2005, following the ousting, during the Tulip Revolution, of President Askar Akayev. 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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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 whom Bakiyev appointed Prime Minister soon after the election. However widespread election fraud had been reported by many US and NGO election observers. Bakiyev was inaugurated on 14 August in Bishkek.[citation needed]

President

Despite initial hopes, Bakiyev's term in office has been marred by the murder of several prominent politicians[citation needed], prison riots[citation needed], economic ills[citation needed] and battles for control of lucrative businesses[citation needed].[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[citation needed] of not following through with his promises to limit presidential power[citation needed], give more authority to parliament and the prime minister[citation needed], and eradicate corruption and crime[citation needed]. 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]

Over the years the relationship between China and Kyrgyzstan has grown. The number of Chinese students in Kyrgyzstan has risen.[12] There is even a plan for a high-speed rail to connect the two countries.[13]

In February 2009 while in Moscow Bakiyev announced the eviction of the US Air Base from Kyrgyzstan, right after a meeting with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, during which Russia promised a $2 billion investment.[14] However, the base did not get evicted, because US offered more rent. Russia since then said that it will not be able to deliver promised credit, explaining it with current economics crises.[citation needed]

Bakiyev was re-elected in the 2009 Kyrgyzstani presidential election, despite allegations[citation needed] of rampant corruption[citation needed], and voter fraud[citation needed].

After the re-election in 2009, some people in Kyrgyzstan said that he would now deal with political and economic reform.[15]

Others were skeptical[citation needed]. The Eurasian Daily Monitor wrote on September 10 that his style resembled autocrats such as Vladimir Putin[citation needed] and Nursultan Nazarbayev[citation needed]. However, he lacked resources and Kyrgyz people were anxious about the risk of renewed power shortages and blackouts like in the winter 2008–2009.[15]

During the winter of 2010 Kyrgyzstan has suffered from rolling blackouts and cutoffs occurring regularly while energy prices have risen.[16]

In January 2010 Kyrgyzstan approached the People's Republic of China.[17] Kyrgyzstan national electric company Natsionalnaya electricheskaya syet and the Chinese Tebian Electric signed a $342 million contract to build the Datka-Kemin 500 kv power transmission lines. This would have reduced Kyrgyzstan's dependence on the Central Asian power system. The delegation was led by Bakiyev's son.[17]

In February 2010 Kyrgyzstan had to rise energy tariffs. Heating costs were reportedly going to rise 400 percent and electricity by 170 percent.[18]

Russia backed his government until March 2010[citation needed]. The Eurasian Daily Monitor reported on April 1 that, for two weeks, the Kremlin has used the Russian mass media to run a negative campaign against Bakiyev.[19] Russia controls much of the media in Kyrgyzstan.[19] The sudden campaign coincided with Bakiyev's failure to carry out Russia's various demands related to things such as military bases.[19] On April 1 Russia also imposed duties on energy exports to Kyrgyzstan. It influenced fuel and transport prices immediately, and reportedly led to a massive protest in Talas on April 6.[20]

2010 Coup

In April 2010, after bloody riots in the capital overturned the government, Bakiyev reportedly fled to the southern city of Osh.[21] The head of the new provisional government, Roza Otunbayeva, declared that Bakiyev had not resigned and was trying to rally support.[22] On April 13, 2010, Bakiyev said he is willing to resign the presidency if his security is guaranteed.[23] On April 15, 2010, at 19:00, Bakiyev left Kyrgyzstan for Kazakhstan, having signed a resignation letter.[24][25] Otunbayeva stated that she would press ahead to bring Bakiyev to trial. [26]

References

  1. ^ After years of turmoil, Kyrgyz voters go to the polls UNHCR Refworld
  2. ^ Bakiev sworn in as Kyrgyz leader BBC News
  3. ^ Kyrgyz jail unrest claims lives BBC News
  4. ^ Kyrgyz rally against corruption BBC News
  5. ^ Kyrgyz MP shot dead in Bishkek BBC News
  6. ^ Clashes erupt in Kyrgyz capital BBC News
  7. ^ Thousands rally against Kyrgyz leader Al Jazeera
  8. ^ Kyrgyzstan brings coup charges Al Jazeera
  9. ^ "Kyrgyzstan: Protests Gain Steam Ahead Of Major Antigovernment Rally", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 9, 2007.
  10. ^ "Kyrgyz opposition stages large rally against embattled president", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), April 11, 2007.
  11. ^ "Kyrgyzstan: Overnight Violence Halts Bishkek Rallies", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 20, 2007.
  12. ^ Kyrgyzstan: Chinese student population growing, despite local fears. EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight.
  13. ^ The Implications of China's High-Speed Eurasian Railway Strategy for Central Asia. 2010-04-02
  14. ^ Kyrgyz Eviction Warnings Intensify Over U.S. Air BaseRFE/RL, 04 February 2009
  15. ^ a b Bakiyev Promises Reform and Persecutes Opposition. Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 6 Issue: 136
  16. ^ Kyrgyzstan: The Causes Behind the Crisis. Stratfor 2010-04-07
  17. ^ a b Kyrgyzstan Boosts Cooperation With China. Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 7 Issue: 10. 2010-01-15.
  18. ^ Kyrgyzstan: Utility price hike squeezes citizens. EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight. 2010-02-08
  19. ^ a b c Russian Mass Media Attack Bakiyev. Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 7 Issue: 63. April 1, 2010. 2009-09-10.
  20. ^ Kyrgyzstan: Is Putin punishing Bakiyev?. EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight. 2010-04-06.
  21. ^ "Kyrgyz president leaves Bishkek for Osh – KABAR news agency". ITAR TASS. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  22. ^ "Kyrgyzstan opposition declares new government". BBC. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  23. ^ "Ousted Kyrgyz Leader Agrees to Resign in Exchange for Protection". Fox News. 13 April 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  24. ^ http://kg.akipress.org/news:194361
  25. ^ "Kyrgyz president resigns, leaves for Kazakhstan: reports". The National Post. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  26. ^ Al Jazeera report on Bakiyev (in English)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan
2000–2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan
2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan
2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Kyrgyzstan
2005–2010 		Succeeded by
Roza Otunbayeva
Head of Interim Government
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