Ata-Zhurt
Encyclopedia
Ata-Zhurt, sometimes Ata-Jurt, (Kyrgyz
: Ата-журт), or Fatherland, is a political party
in Kyrgyzstan
. Its political base is in the south of the country, but the party is headquartered in the capital Bishkek
. The party is led by Kamchybek Tashiyev, and supports the ousted former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev
.
. She joined together with three opposition parliamentarians to found the party in preparation for the February 2005 parliamentary elections. However, she was personally barred from standing for office due to a recently enacted law in which candidates had to have been residing in the country for five years in order to stand for elections. Following the 2005 Tulip Revolution
, Otunbayeva joined the interim government of Acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev
.
, the party said it would seek to restore Bakiyev to power, and claimed it was more popular than the interim government. The party also suggested it would rollback the Kyrgyzstani constitutional referendum, 2010
and restore the presidency
to its former state.
On 7 October, the party's headquarters in Bishkek were ransacked and party literature set on fire by a groups of demonstrators who called for the party to be banned. The demonstrators allegedly included family members of the victims of April 2010 violence in Bishkek.
In the election, the party won a number of seats from its traditional southern bastion, though it barely passed the threshold in the capital and the Chuy
region. The party received the votes of 8.89% of eligible voters, giving it 28 of 120 seats in parliament. This result made the party the first of five parties to surpass the support threshold of 5% of eligible voters necessary to enter parliament. As a result Ata-Zhurt was part of the governing coalition with its MP Akhmatbek Keldibekov
chosen as Speaker of Parliament.
Among the party's parliamentary deputies
are some individuals of non-Kyrgyz ancestry, including Ravshanbek Sabirov
, the first Tajik to hold such a position, and Roman Shin
.
Kyrgyz language
Kyrgyz or Kirgiz, also Kirghiz, Kyrghiz, Qyrghiz is a Turkic language and, together with Russian, an official language of Kyrgyzstan...
: Ата-журт), or Fatherland, is a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
. Its political base is in the south of the country, but the party is headquartered in the capital Bishkek
Bishkek
Bishkek , formerly Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan.Bishkek is also the administrative centre of Chuy Province which surrounds the city, even though the city itself is not part of the province but rather a province-level unit of Kyrgyzstan.The name is thought to...
. The party is led by Kamchybek Tashiyev, and supports the ousted former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev is a politician who served as the second President of Kyrgyzstan, from 2005 to 2010...
.
History
The party was founded on 9 December 2004 by former Foreign Minister and ambassador to the United States Roza OtunbayevaRoza Otunbayeva
Roza Isakovna Otunbayeva is a Kyrgyz diplomat and politican who served as the President of Kyrgyzstan from 7 April 2010 until 1 December 2011. She was sworn in on July 3, 2010, after acting as interim leader following the 2010 April revolution which led to the ousting of then President Kurmanbek...
. She joined together with three opposition parliamentarians to found the party in preparation for the February 2005 parliamentary elections. However, she was personally barred from standing for office due to a recently enacted law in which candidates had to have been residing in the country for five years in order to stand for elections. Following the 2005 Tulip Revolution
Tulip Revolution
The Tulip Revolution or First Kyrgyz Revolution refers to the overthrow of President Askar Akayev and his government in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan after the parliamentary elections of February 27 and of March 13, 2005...
, Otunbayeva joined the interim government of Acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev is a politician who served as the second President of Kyrgyzstan, from 2005 to 2010...
.
2010 parliamentary elections
In the Kyrgyzstani parliamentary election, 2010Kyrgyzstani parliamentary election, 2010
An early parliamentary election was held in Kyrgyzstan on 10 October 2010. All 120 seats of the Jogorku Kenesh were elected by using a party list system...
, the party said it would seek to restore Bakiyev to power, and claimed it was more popular than the interim government. The party also suggested it would rollback the Kyrgyzstani constitutional referendum, 2010
Kyrgyzstani constitutional referendum, 2010
A constitutional referendum was held in Kyrgyzstan on 2010 to reduce presidential powers and strengthen democracy in the wake of the 2010 Kyrgyzstani riots. Parliamentary elections followed on 2010.-Background:...
and restore the presidency
President of Kyrgyzstan
The President of Kyrgyzstan is the head of state and the highest official of Kyrgyzstan. The President, according to the constitution, "is the symbol of the unity of people and state power, and is the guarantor of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, and of an individual and citizen." The...
to its former state.
On 7 October, the party's headquarters in Bishkek were ransacked and party literature set on fire by a groups of demonstrators who called for the party to be banned. The demonstrators allegedly included family members of the victims of April 2010 violence in Bishkek.
In the election, the party won a number of seats from its traditional southern bastion, though it barely passed the threshold in the capital and the Chuy
Chuy
Chuy is a town in the extreme east of Uruguay, in the Rocha Department, northeast of Montevideo. It lies on the border with Brazil, separated from its Brazilian sister town of Chui only by a shared avenue that serves as the border, and by the Arroyo Chuy to the east...
region. The party received the votes of 8.89% of eligible voters, giving it 28 of 120 seats in parliament. This result made the party the first of five parties to surpass the support threshold of 5% of eligible voters necessary to enter parliament. As a result Ata-Zhurt was part of the governing coalition with its MP Akhmatbek Keldibekov
Akhmatbek Keldibekov
Akhmatbek Keldibekov is the Speaker of Parliament in Kyrgyzstan as of 17 December 2010. He is a member of the Ata-Zhurt party. He was elected with 101 votes in favour and 14 against as part of the formation of a new government.-References:...
chosen as Speaker of Parliament.
Among the party's parliamentary deputies
Deputy (legislator)
A deputy is a legislator in many countries, particularly those with legislatures styled as a 'Chamber of Deputies' or 'National Assembly'.-List of countries:This is an list of countries using the term 'deputy' or one of its cognates....
are some individuals of non-Kyrgyz ancestry, including Ravshanbek Sabirov
Ravshanbek Sabirov
Ravshanbek Sabirov is a deputy in the Jogorku Kenesh, the parliament of Kyrgyzstan, and a member of the Ata Meken Socialist Party. Upon his election to the Jogorku Kenesh in 2010, he became the first ethnic Tajik to sit in that body.-References:...
, the first Tajik to hold such a position, and Roman Shin
Roman Shin
Ravshanbek Sabirov is a deputy in the Jogorku Kenesh, the parliament of Kyrgyzstan, and a member of the Ata-Zhurt party. Upon his election to the Jogorku Kenesh in 2010, he became the first ethnic Tajik to sit in that body.-References:...
.