Almazbek Atambayev

Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov ordered his government on Aug. 8 to take "urgent measures" in order to maintain the rule of law after a botched night raid to arrest his opponent, ex-president Almazbek Atambayev, turned violent.   

A veteran opposition leader in Kyrgyzstan was arrested on corruption charges, security services said yesterday, as political tensions mount in the Central Asian country ahead of a November presidential poll.

Kyrgyzstan has voted in favor of constitutional changes boosting the power of its government, the Central Election Commission said on Dec. 11, citing preliminary results of a national referendum. 

Kyrgyzstan's government resigned on Oct. 26 after President Almazbek Atambayev's party quit the ruling majority coalition earlier this week, deepening a rift between the pro-Russian leader and his former allies. 

The Social Democratic party, the biggest party in parliament, broke up with its coalition partners on Oct. 24 over their refusal to back proposed constitutional reforms. 

Kyrgyzstan's President Almazbek Atambayev took ill due to "potential problems" in Istanbul on Sept. 19 while en route to New York, where he was due to attend the United Nations General Assembly session, triggering the cancellation of his trip.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Temir Sariyev resigned on April 11 after a parliamentary commission accused his cabinet of corruption, a move highlighting tensions between different factions of President Almazbek Atambayev's supporters. 

"Squabbles, rumours and gossip have upset the balance within the government," Sariyev said. "The government's work has stalled at such a difficult time." 

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Northern Fleet, units of the airborne forces and the Western Military District on full combat alert from 08:00 Moscow time on Monday.

This was announced by Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu, who explained that these developments are part of snap checks, TASS news agency reports.

Tourism is important to countries along the Silk Road in terms of the economy and humanitarian concerns, President Abdullah Gül said on June 5 at the fourth summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Language-Speaking States held in the southwestern province of Muğla.

The memory of late Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov was honored in the Turkish capital as Kyrgyzstan’s President Almazbek Atambayev and senior governmental officials from Turkey attended the opening of monument.