Almazbek Atambayev

Infobox Prime Minister


name =Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev
order =12th Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic
term_start =March 29, 2007
term_end =November 28, 2007
predecessor =Azim Isabekov
successor = Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev
birth_date = Birth date and age|1956|9|17|mf=y
birth_place = Arashan, Kyrgyzstan
death_date =
death_place =
party =Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan
languagesspoken =

Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev (Cyrillic: Атамбаев Алмазбек Шаршенович; born September 17, 1956) was the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan from 29 March 2007 until 28 November 2007. He has served as the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan since 30 July 1999.

Atambayev was an unsuccessful candidate in Kyrgyzstan's presidential election in October 2000 (winning 6% of the vote). [http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/k/kyrgyzstan/kyrgyzstanpres.txt]

Atambayev served as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism in the government from 20 December 2005 [ [http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2005/12/211205.asp "New Kyrgyz Government Sworn In"] , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, December 21, 2005.] until he resigned on 21 April 2006. [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/04/119b52c0-1ad0-43d4-93d5-04f6c67c6961.html "Kyrgyzstan's Trade Minister Resigns"] , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 21, 2006.]

In November 2006 he was one of the leaders of anti-government protests in Bishkek, under the umbrella of the movement 'For Reform!' (За Реформы). [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/11/c1e7e6d1-a898-460b-9ac6-20b7b3e09a64.html] He was also involved in earlier protests in late April 2006.

On 26 December 2006 Atambayev rejected calls from other lawmakers for a dissolution of the Supreme Council, saying, "It is impossible for this Parliament to be dissolved at least until May [2007] , and it has to adopt all the laws. Otherwise there will be a war in Kyrgyzstan, because even if Parliament adopts the [proposed] authoritarian constitution, I will tell you openly, we will not accept it. It would be a constitution adopted illegally. Then we would take every [possible protest action] . We are ready for that." [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/12/BA9BA77F-140E-477E-A444-D7A8B3A594AE.html "Kyrgyz Lawmakers Call For Dissolution Of Parliament"] , RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, December 26, 2006.]

Following the resignation of Prime Minister Azim Isabekov on 29 March 2007, Atambayev was appointed Acting Prime Minister by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/03/a3158b79-6c0d-4f0a-b5f7-021b0ff1b65d.html "Kyrgyz Prime Minister Resigns"] , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, March 29, 2007.] He was then confirmed in parliament by a vote of 48-3 on 30 March. [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/03/978c8db7-9029-4e51-b6de-9b1c6fbc5ffb.html "Kyrgyz Parliament Confirms New Prime Minister"] , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, March 30, 2007.] He is the first prime minister in Central Asia to come from an opposition party. [Ilan Greenberg, [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/world/asia/30kyrgyzstan.html "Pressed, Kyrgyz President Names His Critic as Premier"] , "The New York Times", March 30, 2007, Section A, Page 15.] On 11 April, he tried to address a large protest in Bishkek demanding Bakiyev's resignation, but was booed by the protesters. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/11/asia/AS-GEN-Kyrgyzstan-Protest.php "Kyrgyz opposition stages large rally against embattled president"] , Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), April 11, 2007.] [Bruce Pannier, [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/4/67A4098F-4984-4307-B003-1EF7F2B5988C.html "Kyrgyzstan: Thousands Demand President's Resignation"] , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 11, 2007.]

Bakiyev announced the resignation of Atambayev's government on October 24 2007, following a successful referendum. The government was to remain in office until after a parliamentary election in December. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/24/asia/AS-POL-Kyrgyzstan-Government.php "President: Kyrgyz government resigns but will stay on for 2 more months"] , Associated Press ("International Herald Tribune"), October 24, 2007.]

Nonetheless, Atambayev resigned on 28 November 2007; Bakiyev accepted the resignation, while praising Atambayev for his performance in office, and appointed Acting First Deputy Prime Minister Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev in his place as Acting Prime Minister. [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/28/content_7161658.htm "Spokesman: Kyrgyz president accepts resignation of PM"] , Xinhua, November 28, 2007.] Daniel Sershen, [http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav112907.shtml "KYRGYZSTAN: PRIME MINISTER PUSHED ASIDE AS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION APPROACHES"] , eurasianet.org, November 29, 2007.] Edil Baisalov of the Social Democratic Party claimed that Atambayev was forced out of office because he was an obstacle to alleged government interference in the parliamentary election.

References