40 Facts About Almazbek Atambayev

Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev is a Kyrgyz politician who served as the President of Kyrgyzstan from 1 December 2011 to 24 November 2017.

Almazbek Atambayev was Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan from 17 December 2010 to 1 December 2011, and from 29 March 2007 to 28 November 2007.

Almazbek Atambayev served as Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan from 30 July 1999 to 23 September 2011.

Unlike most elected presidents of the Central Asian countries, Almazbek Atambayev did not try to extend his powers after the term specified by the Constitution and peacefully transferred power, marking the first such precedent in the history of modern Central Asia.

Almazbek Atambayev's father, Sharshen Atambayev, was a veteran of World War II who served with the Red Army on the front lines in Eastern Europe.

Almazbek Atambayev has four children from his marriage to his first wife Buazhar.

Almazbek Atambayev's daughther - Aliya Shagieva - is a famous artist in Kyrgyzstan.

Almazbek Atambayev served as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism in the government from 20 December 2005 until he resigned on 21 April 2006.

Almazbek Atambayev was involved in earlier protests in late April 2006.

Almazbek Atambayev is the first prime minister in Central Asia to come from an opposition party.

Nonetheless, Almazbek Atambayev resigned on 28 November 2007; Bakiyev accepted the resignation, while praising Almazbek Atambayev for his performance in office, and appointed Acting First Deputy Prime Minister Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev in his place as Acting Prime Minister.

Edil Baisalov of the Social Democratic Party claimed that Almazbek Atambayev was forced out of office because he was an obstacle to alleged government interference in the parliamentary election.

Almazbek Atambayev, who was at the helm of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, played a key role in the Tulip Revolution of 2005.

Almazbek Atambayev oriented his party towards the fight for the establishment of a rule of law and justice, attracting many supporting citizens.

Almazbek Atambayev used his position to call for democratic reforms and the improvement of human rights in the country.

On 20 April 2009, Almazbek Atambayev was announced as a candidate for the July 2009 presidential elections.

Almazbek Atambayev ran in 2011 to succeed Roza Otunbayeva as President of Kyrgyzstan.

George Soros spoke positively about Almazbek Atambayev, stating that "Kyrgyzstan was lucky to have a non-corrupt president", noting that the coming to power of a person who is not mired in corruption is good for the democratic development of the country.

In December 2016, Almazbek Atambayev signed a decree officially abolishing the use of military courts in Kyrgyzstan.

Almazbek Atambayev chose to step away from the second presidential term and abide the Constitution despite Putin and Nazarbayev asking him to stay in power:.

Almazbek Atambayev negotiated this assistance during his visit to Brussels during negotiations with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schultz and the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy in 2013.

Also at that time, Almazbek Atambayev had an active dialogue with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.

In 2011 soon after becoming President, Almazbek Atambayev travelled to Turkey and signed an agreement with the Turkish President agreeing to increase trade from $300 million in 2011 to $1 billion by 2015, with Turkey agreeing to attract Turkish investment to Kyrgyzstan to the amount of $450 million within the next few years.

Almazbek Atambayev visited Brussels as president 4 times - in 2011,2013,2015 and 2016.

In February 2015, tension with Belarus arose over the death of Almanbet Anapiyaev, aged 41, whose death Almazbek Atambayev blamed solely on former Security Service chief Janish Bakiyev, who was being sheltered in Minsk alongside his father.

In May 2015, during a Victory Day meeting of CSTO leaders in Moscow, Almazbek Atambayev took part in an argument with President Islam Karimov over the issue of water resources of Central Asia.

Almazbek Atambayev accused Kazakhstan officials for being corrupt by looting the pensioners income.

On 9 October 2017, Almazbek Atambayev announced that he wouldn't attend the CIS heads of state summit in Sochi, which would have required the Kyrgyz leader to meet president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The President of Kyrgyzstan, Almazbek Atambayev, firmly stated that the Russian military base would be withdrawn from the country.

In early 2012 Almazbek Atambayev travelled to Moscow, where in his meeting with Medvedev he called for the $15 million owed by Russia to Kyrgyzstan for their use of the Kant airbase.

Almazbek Atambayev is the only Central Asian president in the history of the region who honored the memory of the victims of the 1916 massacre carried out by the punitive troops of the Russian Empire.

Almazbek Atambayev's actions underscored the importance of historical memory and unity in the face of past injustices, and the decision was seen as a significant step towards national reconciliation and strengthening the identity of the peoples of Central Asia.

In 2015, Almazbek Atambayev abandoned the use of the St George ribbon, which was used in post-Soviet countries and Russia, as a symbol of memory of the 1916 uprising.

Almazbek Atambayev supported the launch of World Nomad Games in 2014 it in order to preserve and popularize the nomadic traditions of Central Asia.

Almazbek Atambayev personally led the Kyrgyz national team on the opening ceremony of the first World Nomad Games in 2014 and 2016 in order to popularize the event.

Almazbek Atambayev announced "stand to the end" against the family clan regime of Jeenbekov.

Almazbek Atambayev Atambaev was sentenced to a criminal term in case of Batukaev's release and alleged involvement in the jailbreak of the gangster Batukaev, although there was no evidence in the case that Batukaev and Atambaev were somehow personally connected and supported contacts.

Almazbek Atambayev was imprisoned again on 10 October for participation in the 2020 Kyrgyz revolution turmoil, but later was acquitted of criminal charges.

Almazbek Atambayev was acquitted in all criminal cases against him in February 2023.

Almazbek Atambayev was denied not only treatment, but even a serious medical examination.