Atambayev, Almazbek Sharshenovich

Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev, 1956–, Kyrgyz political leader, grad. Moscow Institute of Management (1983). An economist and Communist party member, he served (1983–87) on the Supreme Council of the Kyrgyz SSR. After independence, he became a successful businessman and was elected to parliament. A founder (1993) of the Social Democratic party and its head from 1999, he was its presidential candidate in 2000. He briefly (2005–6) served as minister of industry, trade, and tourism, and led antigovernment protests in Bishkek in 2006. Appointed prime minister in 2007 by President Bakiyev, he resigned later that year. In 2009 he again ran for president but withdrew before the voting, charging planned fraud. Following Bakiyev's exile and parliamentary elections in 2010, Atambayev became prime minister. In 2011 he won the presidency in a landslide, but the election was marred by irregularities.

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Publication information: Article title: Atambayev, Almazbek Sharshenovich. Encyclopedia title: The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. © 2012 The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia © 2012, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. Used with the permission of Columbia University Press. All Rights Reserved. Publisher: The Columbia University Press. Place of publication: Not available. Publication year: 2013.

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