Most politicians and political experts believe that Isabekov is a temporary figure. Parliamentarian Bolot Sherniyazov said the President needed a temporary and weak person whom he could manipulate during these harsh times, when the problem with the HIPC Initiative is not yet resolved, and while the issue of privatization of the energy sector and other strategic objects is still being discussed. The new head of government, Sherniyazov stated, is a “kamikaze†because he will be responsible for all these things. To the question why Isabekov waschosen, Sherniyazov noted that the fact that Isabekov is northerner (unlike southern Bakiev) also played a significant role in choosing him as a candidate for the post.
Outlining the main directions of the new government’s work, the new Prime Minister noted that his team will mainly focus on the development of Kyrgyzstan’s economy. “The attention of the new government will be concentrated only on the economy. Our President put before me the main task – to solve economic problems,†said Isabekov during his speech in Parliament on January 29. Isabekov mentioned fighting corruption and agricultural development as the new government’s priorities.
On February 6, after long discussions and hot debates in Parliament, a new government structure was approved by legislators. A draft of the government structure ha been recalled several times and as a result, a revised and compromise version of the government’s structure was eventually supported by Parliament. Right after the government’s approval, Prime Minister Isabekov promised to form a new government in the next two days.
Azim Isabekov is considered to be one of the closest allies of the President. He was born in Chuy oblast and worked in this region for most of his career. It is notable that Isabekov worked under Bakiev’s supervision when the latter was governor of the Chuy oblast, until 2000. After the March events in 2005, Isabekov was appointed first deputy head of the Presidential Administration. From May 2006, he worked as a Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry.
Isabekov’s candidacy was offered by the President after Parliament refused to support Felix Kulov’s nomination for the post for a second time. Despite Kulov’s confidence that the President would nominate him again and again until finally approved, Bakiev refused to nominate Kulov for a third time. It seemed that Kulov did not expect such actions from Bakiev. “What can I say about a person who does not respect his promise?†said Kulov in one of his interviews. It is noteworthy that Kulov stated numerous times that the President promised to nominate his candidacy for this post until his candidacy was finally passed.
Opposition politicians say that the President just sought to get rid of his main political opponent, with whom he was forced to co-habit, sometimes uneasily, during the last two years. The President, opposition leaders stress, could easily have received approval for Kulov had he really wanted it. “If the President wished Kulov to be Prime Minister, it would be that way. Bakiev has the support of 50 deputies in the Parliament [our of 75 seats, some of which are vacant] and they will do whatever the President will sayâ€, said Parliament member Azimbek Beknazarov in his interview to AKIpress news agency.
Some political experts warn that Kulov’s leaving government will cause the exacerbation of the country’s political situation. “I think that a war between regional, clan and political groups will start in the country,†stated Kyrgyz political expert Nur Omarov. However, few people think this way. Despite many opinions saying Kulov will become the main opposition leader in Kyrgyzstan, most political experts conclude that he, and his political party, “Ar Namysâ€, will conduct a moderate opposition against the Kyrgyz government.
Book S. Frederick Starr and Svante E. Cornell,