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Native son: the rise of Kyrgyzstan’s Sadyr Japarov

As the rise of Kyrgyzstan’s new nationalist leader shows, “traditional” norms and symbols can be effectively revived and deployed for very modern aims.

By Aksana Ismailbekova
Native son: the rise of Kyrgyzstan’s Sadyr Japarov
28 January 2020: Sadyr Japarov at his presidential inauguration | Image: President of Kyrgyzstan
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Gulmira, a university instructor in Kyrgyzstan’s largest southern city, Osh, has been disaffected with the country’s politics for years.

“For a long time, the government has been unable to solve the problems of local business people because of organised criminal groups in Osh,” she complained when we spoke over the phone.

In January, Gulmira voted for Sadyr Japarov in the country’s presidential election, which the former convict turned interim PM and president won in a landslide, securing almost 80% of the vote.

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