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Eurasia
April 20, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 22
would have to "engage in politics again” in order to assist Jeenbekov and prepare the party for the 2020 parliamentary elections. While Atambayev, who calls Jeenbekov an “old friend”, said during the March 31 event that it was necessary to say “harsh words” about the new president in order to help him rule, the latter possibly took the criti- cisms personally.
Earlier, the president dismissed Prosecutor- General Indira Joldubayeva and two high profile security officials.
Jeenbekov is now expected to issue a dismissal decree on Joldubayeva, who was appointed in January 2015. She has been widely criticised by activists for what they claim was the persecution of opposition politicians and independent media. Atambayev’s December 2015 constitutional ref- erendum, which weakened presidential powers and strengthened the role of the prime minister,
were put in place to maintain SDPK’s control over the country, some Kyrgyzstan watchers say. SDPK holds a parliamentary majority and has the power to fire and appoint prime ministers. The lawmak- ers, including those of the SDPK, appear to have largely aligned with Jeenbekov in his moves to sack Atambayev loyalists, placing Atambayev’s level of influence further in doubt.
Landlocked and mountainous Kyrgyzstan, a coun- try of 5.7mn, is known for its political volatility. It experienced revolutions in 2005 and 2010, which toppled the regimes of Askar Akayev and Kur- manbek Bakiyev, respectively. Atambayev is often seen as having played a pivotal role in both revo- lutions. He has presented himself as a champion of democracy, but his popularity has waned over the years against the backdrop of the 2015 refer- endum and his commitment to keeping SDPK in power.