Almazbek Atambayev
A former businessman who steered Kyrgyzstan through its first peaceful transfer of presidential power, then saw his legacy unravel in arrest and conflict.
Born 1956 (age 70)·President of Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2017·Birthday: September 17·Baby Boomers
Biography
Almazbek Atambayev’s presidency was a chapter in Kyrgyzstan’s turbulent post-Soviet story, marked by a historic first and a dramatic fall. A savvy entrepreneur who co-founded the country’s dominant Social Democratic Party, he rose to power not through revolution but election, becoming prime minister after the 2010 uprising. In 2011, he won the presidency, positioning himself as a stabilizing force who would curb corruption and maintain ties with both Russia and the West. His single six-year term concluded with the nation’s first peaceful handover of power to a successor—a significant milestone. Yet his exit from office opened a bitter feud with his chosen heir, Sooronbay Jeenbekov. Accused of corruption, Atambayev was stripped of immunity, and a 2019 raid on his compound sparked deadly clashes. His subsequent imprisonment painted a stark portrait of the volatile politics he once claimed to have tamed.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Almazbek was born in 1956, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Almazbek Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Almazbek's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the President of Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2017, overseeing the country's first peaceful transition between elected presidents.
- Served as Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan three separate times, including during a crucial period after the 2010 revolution.
- Was a co-founder and long-time chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK), a major political force.
Did You Know?
Before entering politics, he was a successful businessman, running a printing house and other ventures.
He is an avid chess player and has participated in exhibition matches with grandmasters.
In 2019, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in the illegal release of a notorious crime boss, though he claimed the charges were political.
“I am not clinging to power. I believe that a change of power is necessary for any country.”
