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Seven moments from the life of Almazbek Atambayev

The rise of Kyrgyzstan’s increasingly authoritarian president is an unusual story. Fergana News recalls some of its stranger chapters.

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Meeting_of_CIS_Council_of_Heads_of_State_(2016-09-16)_05_0.jpg
Meeting_of_CIS_Council_of_Heads_of_State_(2016-09-16)_05_0.jpg

Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev at September 2016 Meeting of CIS Council of Heads of State. Source: Kremlin.ru.

We repost this article in translation with permission from Fergana News

In civilised states, the president’s health, whether mental or physical, is not considered a state secret. Everywhere, the press and the opposition are needed to keep madmen from coming to power. A sad example is the election of Donald Trump — a man who many, to put it mildly, don’t consider to be presidential material. And how could one not compare him with Kyrgyzstan’s president Almazbek Atambayev?