It is scary to become a "has-been"

It is Scary to Become a Former

In the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek, the prosecution demanded 7 years and 6 months in prison for Kadyrbek Atambayev, the son of former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, reports the Kyrgyz service of Radio Azattyk. The case is linked to the alleged preparation of mass riots on the eve of the snap parliamentary elections held in Kyrgyzstan last year.

In addition to Kadyrbek Atambayev, several members of the Social Democrats party and other defendants are involved in the case. For Temirlan Sultanbekov, the prosecutor requested 9 years in prison. For Kubanychbek Kadyrov, Ermek Ermatov, and two citizens of Kazakhstan, the prosecution also demanded 7 years and 6 months each.

Kadyrbek Atambayev was previously removed from the courtroom by the judge for disorderly conduct and missed several hearings. His lawyer, Sergey Slesarev, petitioned for the defendant to be personally present during the debate stage, the final statement, and the reading of the verdict.

The defendants in the case were detained in late November last year. According to investigators, they were preparing mass protests following the snap parliamentary elections. The accused and their defense disagree with these conclusions.

Former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev himself is currently in Spain, where he traveled for medical treatment following a court decision in 2023. In June 2025, a court in Bishkek sentenced him in absentia to 11 years and 6 months in prison with confiscation of property. The former president called the verdict "political revenge."