Askar Akayev
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Askar Akayevich Akayev (born 10 November 1944 in Kyzyl-Bairak, Kyrgyzstan) is the former President of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan); he had served in that office since it declared its independence after the demise of the Soviet Union. The youngest of five sons, the future head of state grew up in a family of collective farmers. He is married to Mairam Akayeva with whom he has four children. He fled the country on March 23, 2005, in the face of a popular uprising in Kyrgyzstan known as the Tulip Revolution. His term as president had already been slated to end shortly, but it was widely suspected that he was going to retain either de facto power by arranging for the election of a close supporter or relative, or perhaps even by abrogation of the term limit provision in the constitution and remaining in power personally, an allegation which he strongly denied.
Education and early career
Akayev graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics in 1967 with an honors degree in mathematics, engineering and computers. He obtained a doctorate in 1981 from the Moscow Institute of Engineering and Physics, having written his dissertation on holographic systems of storage and transformation of information.
Akayev began teaching in 1977 at the Polytechnic Institute in Frunze (now Bishkek). Some of his cabinet members were former students and friends from his academic career.
Political career
In 1990 Akayev became president through election by the country's Supreme Soviet. He had previously served as a people's deputy in the body, and was chosen as an alternative after an earlier round of voting could not decide between two other candidates. He was re-elected in 1991, and again, amid allegations of ballot rigging, in 1995 and 2000.
Initially seen as a liberal and democratic leader, who actively promoted the privatization of land and other economic assets, he increasingly demonstrated authoritarian tendencies and faced mass protests calling for his resignation.
Protests
The first wave of demonstrations took place in mid-March 2002. Azimbek Beknazarov, a member of parliament accused of abuse of power, was due to attend trial taking place in Jalal-Abad. Over 2,000 demonstrators marched on the town where the proceedings were to take place. According to eye-witnesses, police ordered the demonstrators to stop and gave them fifteen minutes to disperse, yet opened fire before this time elapsed. Five men were shot dead; another was killed on the next day. 61 people were injured, including 47 police and 14 civilians.
In May, riot police clashed with protesters in Bishkek during demonstrations in support of Beknazarov. Police in the capital's Parliament square kicked protesters and dragged people away to break up the 200-strong crowd. They made several demands including the resignation of Akayev. This was again repeated in November of the same year when scores were arrested as the opposition marched on the capital.
Election controversy
Protests continued, albeit on a smaller scale, at various points over the next few years. However following legislative elections in 2005 they once more turned violent. Riots broke out in Osh and also in Jalal-Abad (the scene of initial demonstrations) which reportedly left 10 people dead. The government then stated it was ready to negotiate with the demonstrators. However an opposition leader said talks would only be worthwhile if the President himself took part.
Akayev refused to resign, but pledged not to use force to end the protests, which he says are organised by unspecified foreign forces attempting to provoke a large-scale clamp-down in response.
On March 23, Akayev announced the dismissal of Interior Minister Bakirdin Subanbekov and the general prosecutor, Myktybek Abdyldayev for "poor work" in dealing with the growing protests against his government.
Coup d'état
On March 24, 2005, amid the legislative elections in 2005, protesters stormed the presidential compound in the capital city of Bishkek, and seized control of the seat of state power after clashing with riot police during a large opposition rally due to widespread allegations of fraud during parliamentary elections in the former Soviet republic.
The opposition supporters also seized control of key cities and towns in the south to press demands that Akayev step down amid widespread allegations of fraud during parliamentary elections.
That day, Akayev reportedly fled the country with his family. His exact whereabouts are not known for certain. Some details says that he went to Russia or Kazakhstan; other reports say he asked for asylum on a nearby US military base. An CSCE country representative reported he has no information of Akayev. Reports that Akayev tendered his resignation to the opposition leaders were later dismissed, too.
Transfer of power
Akayev had promised to step down from office when his final term expired in 2005, but the possibility of a dynastical succession had been raised. Both his son Aidar Akayev and his daughter Bermet Akayeva, were candidates in the 2005 legislative election. Askar Akayev was granted lifelong immunity from prosecution by the lower house of parliament in 2003.
Quotes
- "We do not welcome the current events in Ukraine. We are against conducting a Tulip Revolution here in Kyrgyzstan since it will lead to instability in the country’s government structures" 2004 after the Orange Revolution that swept Viktor Yushchenko to power.
- "I personally, President Akayev, have not had and do not have any intention of changing the constitution with the aim of extending my term in office." As he cast his vote for 2005 Parliamentary elections.
- "It seems to me that the Paris Club, made up of developed democratic countries, by its decision is showing confidence in the policies of our country which is step by step making the difficult ascent to the heights of democracy" After the Paris Club of creditor nations wrote off 60% of Kyrgyzstan's external debt.
- "All this is designed to provoke the government into using massive...force. I want to state firmly that I, as a president, will never resort to such steps" Claiming that opposition riots were orchestrated by foreign powers, and that he will not clamp down on such dissent.
- "Such revolutions, which are nothing more than coups, go beyond the framework of the law."