Presented by Zakir CHOTAEV
Visiting Scholar in IERES, Elliott School, GWU.
Senior Lecturer in the Department of State Building
Academy of Management under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic,
Department of International Affairs the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University.
The Kyrgyz Republic
Contents:
 The development of the political system of Kyrgyzstan under the
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Akaev rule
The Political Development after 24th March 2005
The main reasons of the fall down of the Akaev regime. Some
comparison with new regime
The Constitutional Amendments after the Events of March 24th
The reelection of President Bakiev and widening of the
administrative reforms in Kyrgyzstan
New structure of the state governance
Analysis and Consequences of the Administrative Reforms
Conclusion on the importance of the constitutional development
Kyrgyz Foreign Policy
The Brief Analysis of the Kyrgyz Foreign Policy
Multi-Vector Policy Issue: The Case of the Relations with Great
Powers: USA and Russia
The development of the political system of Kyrgyzstan
under the Akaev rule
 Kyrgyzstan is one of the post-soviet Central Asian countries
with the smallest territory and size of population in the
region with lack of rich mineral resources. This situation
contributes to development of the priorities in its foreign
and domestic policies and provides Kyrgyz leadership to
promote the “twin ideals of democracy and a market
economy” in the country
 Askar Akaev, the first President of the Kyrgyz Republic was
leader among the Central Asian countries on
implementation of liberal and democratic reforms in
Kyrgyzstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union – “island
of democracy”
 “[D]uring the early 1990s Kyrgyzstan remained the most
open of the Central Asian states, and exhibited a relatively
high degree of social pluralism” (John Anderson, 2000)
 Since 1995, Akaev’s government began to strengthen the
presidential authority (1996 amendments to the
Constitution) and impose limits to the ‘press freedom’ by
launching attacks on independent media sources
 1999 (Aksiy events): Akaev imposed the authoritarian rule
in the country supported by political elite and encouraged
by Akaev’s family members
 2000: Reelection of Askar Akaev in 2000 year for a so called
‘second term’. Constitutional Court decision.
 2003 amendments to the Constitution. As it was claimed,
these arrangements were adopted to prolong Akaev’s
regime in the Kyrgyzstan.
The Political Development after 24th March 2005
 The events of the 24th March 2005 opened new opportunity
for democratization in Kyrgyzstan
 The new state government was composed of two main
representatives of South and North of Kyrgyzstan –
President Kurmanbek Bakiev and Prime Minister Feliks
Kulov in order to avoid regional withstanding
 Political struggle, street meetings and disagreement
between the main political forces on the implementation
of the constitutional reforms had been continued until the
end of the next (2006)
 Under the pressure of opposition new Constitution was
admitted on the 8th November 2006.
 Threat of dissolution of Jogorku Kenesh forced to the
admission of new Constitution Amendments on the 30th of
December 2006
 New wave of confrontation in the April 2007 between the
President and the former Prime Minister Feliks Kulov who
became the leader of ‘the united opposition front’ resulted
in the fall down of the opposition activity and the
strengthening of President Authority
 On September 14th 2007 The Constitutional Court canceled
the Constitutional Amendments of 8 November and 30
December opening way for new Constitution initiated by
President Bakiev which adopted on the 21st October 2007.
The main reasons of the fall down of the Akaev regime
 Despite the allegations of external involvement in the events of March
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2005, the main causes of ‘colorful revolution’ derived from the
Kyrgyzstan domestic situation: socio-economic, cultural and political
environment
John Engval analyzing the Kyrgyz state system emphasized the absence
of stable legal order to build a strong state structure, and also the
presence of legal deficit in the political and state relationship.
The existence of permanent socio-economic crisis in the country is one
of the important reasons of instability.
Akaev government showed unwillingness and failed to implement the
democratic order as well as to cope with socio-economic situation
which are the results of the weak legal system supported by the
corruption and nepotism
Clan politics: the process of monopolizing of political and economic
power in Kyrgyzstan by the Akaev family in the beginning of 2000’s
decreased the political support from other clans, weakened the state
authority and finally destabilized the situation in the country.
Evaluation of the Bakiev government
 The political struggle and distribution of state powers
between new leaders and political and regional clans became
one of the main problems, opposing the consolidation of the
state authority during the relatively democratic but unstable
transitional period of 2005-2007.
 The following political development also shows that new
government confronting the similar problems as Akaev’s
regime had, continue to use the old methods in order to
consolidate the presidential powers and disperse the
opposition.
 During this period President Bakiev more skillfully applied
the method of political intrigues as well as actively used the
process of constitutional reforms in the country.
The Constitutional Amendments after the Events of
March 24th
 In 2003 Constitution, there were very wide presidential
powers: the President had the authority to define the
foreign and security policies, control national security
services, determine the state government structure. He
appointed Prime Minister, members of government, local
administration, the procurator-general, constitutional,
supreme and local courts members with consent of Jogorku
Kenesh (article 46)
 Despite the transition of some presidential powers to the
parliament in 2003, the state government looked more
semi-presidential system than semi-parliamental because
of very weak position of the Kyrgyz Parliament
 The Amendment of the 8th November 2006: restricted
presidential power to control the national security forces, to
format state government and appoint its members, so as
restricted the presidential influences on the judicial branch
and legislations (article 46). Adopted new electoral system of
proportional representation of Jogorku Kenesh (at least 50%,
article 56), widened the parliamentary powers to format the
government, and also strengthened the independence of
executive branch (government).
 The Amendment of the 30th December 2006 reinforced the
presidential power to organize and control security services
and widened the President influences on formation of
government by restricting the Parliament timetable to present
the government members and format its structure (from 14 to
5 working days, article 69)
 The 2007 Amendment reinforced the settle of proportional
representation system in the formation of the Parliament but
totally removed the single-member districts from the election
process (article 54).
 - widened the presidential powers by determining the direct
presidential control on 4 government fields, such as national
security, arms forces, foreign policy and internal affairs (article 46).
 - provides new structure of National Council for Justice Affairs to
format and control judicial branch (article 84).
 New Basic Law preserved the semi-presidential system of the state
government and made it stronger, aiming reformation of judicial
branch did not restrict the presidential influence on it. 2007
amendment opened way to the president newly organized political
party and eliminated the possibility to reelect the strong
opposition leaders in the single-member districts.
The reelection of President Bakiev and widening of the
administrative reforms in Kyrgyzstan
(upcoming events)
 The socio-economic situation, energy crisis with effects of the
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world economic downfall of 2008 required implementation of
new development strategy in the country and urgent financial
support for the government.
Agreement with Russia on financial support to Kyrgyzstan
Decision of withdrawal of US military airbase from the country
Consolidation of the Bakiev political position and new
presidential Course for Renovation of the Country
Transforming of Ghancy military base to Transitional Center
Reelection of Bakiev in July 2009 and the beginning of the
implementation of administrative reforms
The New Government of the Kyrgyz Republic
President Kurmanbek Bakiev and Prime-Minister Daniar Usenov
on the Celebration of 85 years of the Foundation of the
Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomy Region
NEW STRUCTURE OF THE STATE GOVERNANCE
 The President Institute
 The Structure of the President Administration transformed to the President
Institute which now consists of
 -3 state organs: President Apparatus (PA), President Secretariat (PS), Central
Agency for Development, Investments and Innovations (CADII),
 - 2 coordinating-consultative councils: Presidential Council (PC), Council for
Development (CD) and
 -2 state officials: State Advisor on Defense, Security and Legal Order Issues
(SADSLOI) and State Minister of Foreign Affairs (SMFA).
 All these divisions are performing under direct subordination and supervision of
the President of KR. The main goals and functions of these organs follow:
 The organs which were withdrawn from the government structure and mainly
become under the supervision of the President of KR which received status of
Central Organs:
 -State Ministry for Foreign Affairs
 -State Service for National Security
 -State Service of Financial Police
-State Service for Intellectual Property.
-State Registration Service
The new government structure:
Prime-Minister, First Vice Prime-Minister, Vice Prime-Minister and Head of the
Government Apparatus in the rank of Vice Prime-Minister .
 14 ministries:
 -Ministry for Finance
 -Ministry for Justice
 -Ministry for Defense
 -Ministry for Internal Affairs
 -Ministry for Emergency Affairs
 -Ministry for Energy
 7 agencies:
 -Agency for Anti-monopoly Regulations
 -Agency for Forestry and Environment Protection
 -Agency for Social Security
 -Agency for Communication
 -Agency for Sport
 -Agency for Architecture and Construction
 -Agency for Culture
 -Ministry for Economic Regulation
 6 services:
 -Ministry for Agriculture
 -Service for Execution of Punishment
 -Ministry for Natural Resources
 -Service for Financial Intelligence
 -Ministry for Transport and
Communications
 -Border Guard Service
 -Ministry for State Property
 -Customs Service
 -Ministry for Health
 -Service for Observation and Regulation of Financial
 -Ministry for Education and Science
Market
 2 funds:
 -State Material Resources Fund
 -Mandatory Medical Insurance Fund
 -Ministry for Labor, Employment and
Migration
 -Tax Service
The Principles and Goals of Changes
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Official principles :
optimization state governance,
elimination of duplication,
strict distribution of functions and competences
Goals:
increasing of the effectiveness of government work
reducing the state expenditures for government sector.
Examples:
in order to avoid duplication, the registration functions removed from
different government ministries and agencies and brought together in
the State Registration Service, as well as different functions of financial
investigation are gathered in one organ – State Service of Financial
Police.
- according to the vice Prime-Minister A. Karashev, 2,208 state officials
were removed from their positions, which safe 240,000 soms for state
budget
 Administrative reforms implement the 2007 Amendments
to the Constitution which have already subordinated the
main executive fields of state governance such as defense,
security, internal affairs and foreign policy to the direct
supervision of the President and, becomes the following
part, which adopts more specifically the new distribution
of powers between the President and the Government
 As an unofficial goal :
this process reduced the executive powers and
responsibility of already weak government in favor of the
President, concentrating the main analytical structure,
political decision making, coordinating and supervising
authorities inside the President Institute.
The meeting of the Presidential Council
working as a National Security Council, March 10th 2010.
Other Significant changes that perceived as a part of
administrative reforms
 The process of constitutional amendment on the issue of the
determination of the candidacy for an acting President in case if the
President would not be able to conduct his duties provided by the
Constitution
 The Constitutional Court of KR finally approved the proposal of the
Parliament on the formation of this collective organ (State Council).
 This amendment proposal awaked different critiques from the political
opposition as well as the other representatives of civil society.
 For example, Rosa Otunbaeva the leader of Social Democrat Party
fraction in the Parliament rightly argued, that in the international
practice the candidacy for this post already exist and fixed in the
constitution, “why we need the additional organ?” … “this
arrangements would open the way for destabilizing of the political
situation in the country”
 During the Statement on issues of State Government
Reforms President Bakiev also mentioned about the
formation of new consultative organ – National Assembly
of Consent (Kurultai Soglasiya), which will composed of
regional, professional, cultural and confessional
representatives of the country.
 The Kurultai pursue the goals to form the friendly
community, implement the principle of tolerance and civil
peace, protect and develop cultural traditions and provide
balance between tradition and innovation.
 Many representatives of the opposition refused to
participate in the Kurultai being suspicious of its
democratic nature and supposing that this meeting will be
the forum for the promotion of the President’s official
policy
Analysis and Consequences of the Administrative Reforms
 Positive effects generally reflect the official goals and principles:
- optimizing the way of state governance, elimination of duplication,
strict distribution of functions and competences
- increasing of the effectiveness of work and reducing the state
expenditures for government sector
 As a result of the period of Bakiev government we can say that,
during the recent years in some areas the quality of public services
provided by the state was increased. We can also see the positive results
of municipal work in Bishkek, as well as can observe some results in
economic development, such as the case of completing construction of
hydroelectric power station (Kambar-Ata 1).
Moreover, the government focused on the implementation more
pragmatic methods of the socio-economic regulations (investment in
profitable economic sectors, increasing tariffs, which is also have its
negative effects).
 As a negative effects:
 there is still the significant level of corruption in the state
relationship, which did not show important positive
development. For example, there are many high rank state
officials closely related to the President family (M. Bakiev).
 The fight against corruption, proclaimed by President
Bakiev, looks like a formal implementation of different
kinds of methods, such as popular investigations and trials
threatening the auditory, but which could not strongly
effect the main core of the state relationship.
 Also, It helps to reduce the level of corruption with some
effect in the sector of public services, but often uses as a
tool for discharging of disliked opponents
 The implementation of administrative reforms is primarily
directed to the reduction of the corruption, but it also made the
transformations which finally left the way to increase it:
 Thus, the problem derived from the system, which provides the
existence of weak government structure and strong presidential power
with dominant position over 3 branches of state governance.
 The 2007 Constitution have already changed the distribution of powers
among executive and legislative branches in favor of president, but at
the same time it did not increase the independence of judicial branch,
which now is the object of supervision of National Council for Justice
Affairs that can be influenced by President. (The President can
influence the members of National Council for Justice Affairs through
their assignment or by other means of executive powers)
 Consequently, we can say that the administrative reforms strengthening
presidential authority consolidated the disproportion of the balance
between different branches of state powers.
 The new amendment to the Constitution which
determines the way of selection of acting President
would give the President the opportunity to legally
determine the successor who could consolidate his position
as an acting President and then provide his reelection for
the next term. (RF Putin) There are different names which
suit to the candidacy for new president but could not be
disclosed presently.
 National Assembly of Consent would provide positive
effects for ruling elite, but negative for the opposition.
An addition to official goals it supposed to mobilize the
people’s support for Bakiev government and determine the
official political course as ‘the only true way’ for the
development of the country
Conclusion on the importance of the constitutional
development:
 Today, we can definitely say that the period after the 24th March 2005 was
the time of democratization revival in Kyrgyzstan. But this transitional
period had been closed with the submitting of new Constitution on the
21st October 2007 and reelecting of new Parliament.
 Consequently, despite the retreatment to develop the democratization
process in the present political life in Kyrgyzstan, the state authority
actively works to adopt new Constitution and legal provisions in order to
show ‘the positive’ results, which will justify new state policy and give the
President the right to characterize the events of 24th March as a
‘revolution’. This day was already proclaimed as ‘Day of People’s
Revolution’ in 2008 by newly elected Parliament.
 In this case the former revolutionary leader and the present opposition
leader Rosa Otunbaeva pointed “ …it was a revolution, …but we lost it,
…today one family replaced the other, … and our revolution to be continued,
…until we make this country democratic…”
The KYRGYZ FOREIGN POLICY
 New government under President Bakiev continues to implement the
main directions of Akaev’s foreign policy with some differences on
methods and approach.
 2007 Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic
emphasize 4 main priorities in Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy:
-strengthening national security by foreign policy methods,
-formation of favorable external environment for realization of
national development priorities,
-strengthening of positive international image of Kyrgyzstan,
-formation of effective system for foreign policy activity in the state.
 The new concept defines the Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy as multivectored, balanced and pragmatic policy, which is supported by the
national interests and based on the real sources and possibilities of the
country.
 There are three main dimensions in the development of Kyrgyz
foreign policy mentioned in the concept:
 Regional dimension defines as the formation of friendship
relations with neighboring countries like Kazakstan,
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China, based on the principles of
respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and mutual
security;
 Continental (or Eurasian) dimension associates with the
development of the relation with main centers of
international policy, such as Russian Federation, China, USA,
European Union, Germany, Japan, India and Turkish Republic
on the base of multi-vectored policy and mutual beneficiary
cooperation.
 Global dimension generally focused on the consolidating the
position of the Kyrgyz Republic in the international
community and the development of the cooperation with
international organizations, particularly the United Nations.
The Brief Analysis of the Kyrgyz Foreign Policy
 The issues in the relations of the Kyrgyz Republic with the
neighboring and regional countries:
 Cooperation activity on the border issues. Since the independence of
Kyrgyzstan the delimitation processes have been completed with two
countries China and Kazakhstan. But more unresolved disputes on the
border delimitation come in relations with Tajikistan and especially with
Uzbekistan that caused some problem in the border regions.
 Common energy system in Central Asia. This issue often becomes the
subject of confrontation between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on one side
and Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on another. The main problem is the
distribution of the water of Syrdarya River - the downstream countries
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan protest and pressure the upstream Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan.
 The connected issue is the cooperation of the regional countries in the
trade of energy resources such as oil and particularly gas supplied by
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan which sometime become the mean of pressure
on Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
 Economic relations and trade is the main sector of cooperation between
Kyrgyzstan and neighboring countries. Kyrgyzstan actively involves in
close socio-economic, cultural, educational and therefore political
cooperation with regional countries such Russia, Kazakhstan and in lower
level with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Since independence Kyrgyz Republic
increases the relations with Turkey Republic and China, which now
compose an important part of Kyrgyz foreign affairs.
 Cooperation in security field. This activity is mainly promoted by Russia
through its bilateral and multilateral relations. Kyrgyzstan actively
involved in the multilateral structures of CSTO and SCO on the fight
against terrorism, extremism and separatism, as well as transnational
crime, contraband of arms and drugs. The main partner of the bilateral
security cooperation is Russia, but China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and
Tajikistan and also Turkey have significant bilateral relations with
Kyrgyzstan in security issues.
 the security issues also become the problems in the relation with Tajikistan
and particularly Uzbekistan
 Security concern also exists in the relations of Kyrgyzstan with more
powerful neighbors like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan which rival for
leadership in Central Asia, and certainly China who still perceived as a
potential threat for independence in the future.
 The foreign relations of Kyrgyzstan with great powers based on
the formation and development of mutual beneficial cooperation as
well as providing multi-vectored foreign policy toward different states.
 This direction of Kyrgyz foreign policy has its significant
implementation in the relations with 3 great powers United States,
Russia and China which has their specific interest in the region and
their potentiality to cooperate or rival with each other. (Some of these
examples will be observed bellow).
 The relations with international organizations are one of the
main directions of Kyrgyz foreign policy. The main goals of this
direction are the active participation of Kyrgyzstan to international
politics as a member of international community as well as to follow
more pragmatic goals such as strengthen the national and regional
security, provide political, financial and technical support for domestic
issues and economic prosperity, take advantage from the processes of
integration and globalization.
 Presently, the Kyrgyz Republic is a member of 71 international
organizations.
Multi-Vector Policy Issue: The Case of the Relations with USA and
Russia
 Kyrgyzstan perceives Russia as the main partner in the political, socio-
economic and cultural cooperation as well as the guarantor for the national
security against external threats. The cooperation between two countries
has been increased since 1999 particularly in security field. The events of
9/11 and American military presence in Kyrgyzstan did not change the
Moscow’s status as the major strategic partner for Bishkek, but provide the
potential for multi-vector policy and the external support for socioeconomic development of the country.
 The US foreign policy in Central Asia was primarily directed at
consolidation of the independent status to prevent further reintegration of
these countries wit Russia. Kyrgyzstan being a small country generally
attracted less attention. The events of 9/11 and Bishkek cooperation
initiative for anti-terrorist campaign suddenly increase its strategic
importance for US government. The Andijan events in Uzbekistan and the
following withdrawal of US military base from Karshi-Khanabad pushed
Washington for closer cooperation with Bishkek and fulfillment of its
demands according the rent cost which was raised by new government in
2006.
 Kyrgyz foreign policy approach toward the great powers to play on both
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side resulted in new agreement with Russia in the beginnings of 2008
President announced the withdrawal of US military base immediately
after the signing the agreement and Parliament ratified this decision in
few days later, which caught everyone by surprise
Many analysts could not believe that withdrawal of the base would
be happened:
Russian observer Arcadiy Dubnov in his interview on the 10th February to
CA News Agency supposed that the base can change status, location, but
he claimed that Americans would stay in Kyrgyzstan, “…we, Kyrgyz and
Americans know this…”.
Gregory Gleason argued that Kyrgyzstan already chose the multi-vector
policy and this decision is illogic because this policy needs the balance in
its implementation otherwise it would loose the sense and the country
would come to the position of ‘vassal state’.
Finally, when the new agreement between Bishkek and Washington was
signed in June 2009 it has become clear about the Kyrgyz pragmatic
intentions in this process.
 The experience and some other sources show that the successful
pragmatic initiatives of Kyrgyz government could be provided because
of the following Russian-American agreement on this issue. There is a
clear understanding of Moscow that American anti-terrorist campaign
in Afghanistan is in favor of all Central Asian countries and Russia,
particularly.
 Today, we can see the development of the Kyrgyz multi-vector
foreign policy with Russian submission of this issue.
 Recently Prime-Minister Daniar Usenov in his official statement
confirmed that “the relations with Russia have very significant
importance” for our country and that “Kyrgyzstan was and is the
consistent ally of Russia”.
 Also, the visits of top Washington officials like US Special Envoy for
Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrook and the Commander of
US Central Forces David Petraus and their meetings with the President
of KR are signs of activation of the cooperation between Kyrgyzstan
and USA, particularly, in security issues.
Presently, Kyrgyzstan confirms its intention to pursue the multivector foreign policy toward the great powers like Russia and
USA, which is now not a subject of consideration.