Kyrgyzstan: Presidential Chief-of-Staff Submits Resignation

Kyrgyzstan is experiencing political turnover at the top. President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's chief of staff, Medet Sadyrkulov, unexpectedly announced his resignation on January 8. The departing presidential aide claimed that his departure had been planned, but some political analysts in Bishkek suggest that Bakiyev may be reshuffling his team in response to the recent revival of opposition political protests.

Sadyrkulov, a consummate insider, had served as chief-of-staff since July 2006. In comments made to the AKIpress news agency, he asserted that he had revealed his intention to resign to Bakiyev in late December, acting out of a desire to "to make way for fresh blood."

The global economic crisis may well have had a role in pushing Sadyrkulov from the corridors of power. Kyrgyzstan's economic plight has significantly deepened over the past half year, breathing fresh life into what had been a moribund opposition movement. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The opposition still seems in disarray, and its recent protests failed to gain traction. But Bakiyev is likely intent on keeping it that way, and preventing his political opponents from gaining a head of steam that on several occasions since the Tulip Revolution of 2005 caused political gridlock in Kyrgyzstan. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Bakiyev likely does not relish the prospect of taking on the opposition again, especially from a position of severe vulnerability given the present economic difficulties.

Political pundits said that although capable, Sadyrkulov was a divisive figure, and his absence will allow Bakiyev to install a more agreeable political figure to the post -- someone who would be better adept at engaging the opposition. "Sadyrkulov is a very strong figure, and I think that experts surrounding Bakiyev advised him to take this step to decrease the heat of political passion," analyst Mars Sariev told the CA-news.org.news website.

Sadyrkulov himself appeared to obliquely acknowledge that he might not be the right person for the chief-of-staff position under present circumstances. "I see and realize very well that the time has come for another phase of our history," he said. "Other approaches, methods of work and people will be necessary. This is exactly why I felt that my work in this post has come to the end."

Sariev emphasized that the next chief-of-staff needed to be a conciliatory figure. "The next chief of the president's administration should be a figure that can offer compromise to many sides," he said. "At the same time, it should be a person who is able to be higher than those political games, a new type of type of politician, someone who will not be an object of politics. I believe we have such people."

Meanwhile, political scientist Nur Omarov contended that the move to dump Sadyrkulov originated from within the presidential administration, saying that internal rivalries, not external factors were chiefly responsible for the administration head's departure. "He did not suit some groups and figures in president's circle," Omarov told the 24kg news agency.

"It happens very often when politicians lose their offices they transfer [their loyalties] to the opposition camp. However, this time, we shouldn't expect that. Sadyrkulov will have neutral position, or in due course, a new office," Omarov continued.

In another move widely seen as connected to Sadyrkulov's resignation, Vice Prime Minister Elmira Ibraimova signaled her intention to leave the government. A representative for the pro-presidential Ak Zhol Party revealed that her resignation had been accepted.