Felix Kulov
Encyclopedia
Felix Sharshenbayevich Kulov (Russian: Феликс Шаршенбаевич Кулов - variously transliterated; born 29 October 1948) served as Prime Minister of
Kyrgyzstan
following the Tulip Revolution
. He first served from 1 September 2005 until he resigned on 19 December 2006. President
Kurmanbek Bakiyev
reappointed him acting Prime Minister the same day, but Bakiyev's attempts to renominate Kulov in January 2007 were unsuccessful due to parliamentary opposition, and on January 29 a new prime minister was approved by parliament. Kulov is the leader of the Ar-Namys
political party and Chairman of the People's Congress of Kyrgyzstan
, an electoral alliance
between Ar-Namys and other parties.
), and initially trained as a policeman. Between 1978 and 1998 he held various posts in the Kyrgyz government, including Minister of the Interior, Minister for National Security and Governor of Chuy Province
. From 1992–1993 he was Vice President
, in which position he oversaw the launch of the Kyrgyz currency, the Som
. However, he was forced to resign following a scandal over missing gold reserves.
From 1998 to 1999 Kulov served as Mayor of Bishkek, becoming a popular politician in the city. In 1999 he participated in the formation of Ar-Namys, becoming its first leader. In February 2000 he announced his intention to run as a member of the Supreme Council
. Kyrgyz police arrested him a month later for corruption
. On 22 January 2001 a military court found him guilty and sentenced him to seven years in prison. He has been cleared of all charges against him in 2005, and in 2010, the UN Human Rights Committee
has found several civil rights violations in his detention and trial.
) and appointed as co-ordinator of law enforcement and security services (effectively, the Kyrgyz head of security) by acting president and prime minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev
. He resigned this position on March 30, saying that he had restored order.
On 6 April a special working group of the Kyrgyz Supreme Court
was formed to review Kulov's earlier prosecution and convictions, and by 11 April he had been cleared of all charges.
Kulov initially announced his intention to stand as a candidate for President in the elections scheduled for 10 July. It was unclear at first whether language would be a barrier to his election: the president is required by law to be fluent in the Kyrgyz language
, and in common with many from the north of the country, Kulov's native tongue is Russian
. The issue became moot, however, when he withdrew his candidacy in mid-May, pledging his support to Bakiyev. At that time he was also appointed Acting First Deputy Prime Minister. He was already expected to be appointed as Prime Minister by the elected President. Bakiyev won the election in July. He was officially sworn in on 11 August. He appointed Kulov acting prime minister. On 1 September 2005, Kulov was confirmed as Prime Minister by the Kyrgyz parliament, by a vote of 55 to 8.
. President Bakiyev immediately appointed him Acting Prime Minister. Bakiyev appointed Kulov Prime Minister again in mid-January 2007.
Parliamentarians voted 39 to 23 against the confirmation of Kulov, 15 votes short the minimum for confirmation, on 18 January 2007. Opposition Parliamentarian Azimbek Beknazarov told Kulov prior to the vote, "I may be wrong, but I believe your nomination will be rejected. Be brave and admit that you cannot perform your duties of prime minister. Admit that you have been unable to do so for the past year-and-a-half. I think it would be better if you refused [to be reappointed]. Be a man!"
President Bakiyev renominated Kulov the next day, since the new constitution permits the same candidate to be presented three times. The Kyrgyz Parliament's Constitution Committee ruled on 22 January 2007 that Bakiyev could not renominate Kulov because it violated the Constitution. Committee chairman Iskhak Masaliyev told Bakiyev to nominate someone else. Myrza Kaparov, Bakiyev's envoy to the Parliament disagreed, telling Parliamentarians, "We must also refer to the constitutional law on government, which says that the president has the right to submit the candidacy three times. If the Jorgorku Kenesh rejects his choice three times, you know all the consequences. Everything is clearly written in this law."
After Kulov's nomination failed for the second time on 26 January, the president nominated agriculture minister Azim Isabekov
, a close associate of his and former deputy head of the Presidential Administration, on 26 January 2007.
In February, Kulov joined an opposition group, the United Front for a Worthy Future for Kyrgyzstan
, which is calling for an early presidential election. As leader of the group, he has also supported the idea of establishing a confederation
with Russia
.
Anti-Bakiyev protests from April 11 to April 19, 2007 culminated with clashes between the protesters and the police, and Kulov was questioned in connection with the clashes on April 21, after initially refusing to appear for questioning on the previous day. Kulov blamed the authorities for the clashes. On August 1, 2007, Kulov was charged with creating public disorder in connection with the clashes.
Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan
The Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan is the head of government of Kyrgyzstan. Generally, the President is in a stronger position than the Prime Minister in Kyrgyzstan. The president is allowed to appoint the Prime Minister temporarily, and his appointment is known as the acting Prime Minister...
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...
following the 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...
. He first served from 1 September 2005 until he resigned on 19 December 2006. President
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...
Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev is a politician who served as the second President of Kyrgyzstan, from 2005 to 2010...
reappointed him acting Prime Minister the same day, but Bakiyev's attempts to renominate Kulov in January 2007 were unsuccessful due to parliamentary opposition, and on January 29 a new prime minister was approved by parliament. Kulov is the leader of the Ar-Namys
Ar-Namys
Ar-Namys is a political party in Kyrgyzstan. It was founded on July 9, 1999 by former Prime Minister Felix Kulov. The party quickly became the nation's leading opposition party but was barred from the 2000 parliamentary elections. However, since the party was barred its members formed a bloc with...
political party and Chairman of the People's Congress of Kyrgyzstan
People's Congress of Kyrgyzstan
People's Congress of Kyrgyzstan was an electoral alliance formed between the Ar-Namys party and three other opposition parties in Kyrgyzstan. Former Prime Minister Felix Kulov was elected Chairman of the Congress in November 2001...
, an electoral alliance
Electoral alliance
An electoral alliance may take the form of a bipartisan electoral agreement, electoral agreement, electoral coalition or electoral bloc. It is an association of political parties or individuals which exists solely to stand in elections...
between Ar-Namys and other parties.
Political career
Kulov was born in Frunze (present-day BishkekBishkek
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...
), and initially trained as a policeman. Between 1978 and 1998 he held various posts in the Kyrgyz government, including Minister of the Interior, Minister for National Security and Governor of Chuy Province
Chuy Province
Chuy Province or Chui Province is the northernmost province of the Kyrgyz Republic. It is bounded on the north by Kazakhstan, and clockwise, Issyk Kul Province, Naryn Province, Jalal-Abad Province and Talas Province...
. From 1992–1993 he was Vice President
Vice President of Kyrgyzstan
The Vice President of Kyrgyzstan was a political position in the government of Kyrgyzstan created in 1991. The position was abolished in 1993....
, in which position he oversaw the launch of the Kyrgyz currency, the Som
Kyrgyzstani som
The som is the currency of the Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia. The ISO 4217 currency code is KGS. The som is sub-divided into 100 tyiyn...
. However, he was forced to resign following a scandal over missing gold reserves.
From 1998 to 1999 Kulov served as Mayor of Bishkek, becoming a popular politician in the city. In 1999 he participated in the formation of Ar-Namys, becoming its first leader. In February 2000 he announced his intention to run as a member of the Supreme Council
Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan
The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan is the unicameral Parliament of Kyrgyzstan. It has 120 seats with members elected for a five-year term by party-list proportional voting.-History:...
. Kyrgyz police arrested him a month later for corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
. On 22 January 2001 a military court found him guilty and sentenced him to seven years in prison. He has been cleared of all charges against him in 2005, and in 2010, the UN Human Rights Committee
Human Rights Committee
The United Nations Human Rights Committee is a United Nations body of 18 experts that meets three times a year for four-week sessions to consider the five-yearly reports submitted by 162 UN member states on their compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,...
has found several civil rights violations in his detention and trial.
Kyrgyz revolution, 2005
On March 24, 2005, Kulov was released during the Kyrgyz revolution (the Tulip RevolutionTulip 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...
) and appointed as co-ordinator of law enforcement and security services (effectively, the Kyrgyz head of security) by acting president and prime minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev is a politician who served as the second President of Kyrgyzstan, from 2005 to 2010...
. He resigned this position on March 30, saying that he had restored order.
On 6 April a special working group of the Kyrgyz Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
was formed to review Kulov's earlier prosecution and convictions, and by 11 April he had been cleared of all charges.
Kulov initially announced his intention to stand as a candidate for President in the elections scheduled for 10 July. It was unclear at first whether language would be a barrier to his election: the president is required by law to be fluent in the Kyrgyz language
Kyrgyz language
Kyrgyz or Kirgiz, also Kirghiz, Kyrghiz, Qyrghiz is a Turkic language and, together with Russian, an official language of Kyrgyzstan...
, and in common with many from the north of the country, Kulov's native tongue is Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
. The issue became moot, however, when he withdrew his candidacy in mid-May, pledging his support to Bakiyev. At that time he was also appointed Acting First Deputy Prime Minister. He was already expected to be appointed as Prime Minister by the elected President. Bakiyev won the election in July. He was officially sworn in on 11 August. He appointed Kulov acting prime minister. On 1 September 2005, Kulov was confirmed as Prime Minister by the Kyrgyz parliament, by a vote of 55 to 8.
Kyrgyz politics since 2005
Kulov served as Prime Minister until 19 December 2006 when he resigned, automatically triggering the dismissal of his cabinet per the ConstitutionConstitution of Kyrgyzstan
The Constitution of Kyrgyzstan is the supreme law of the Kyrgyz Republic . The constitution in force until 2010 was passed by referendum on 21 October 2007 and it is based on the first post-Soviet constitution originally adopted on 5 May 1993, a year and a half after the country had gained...
. President Bakiyev immediately appointed him Acting Prime Minister. Bakiyev appointed Kulov Prime Minister again in mid-January 2007.
Parliamentarians voted 39 to 23 against the confirmation of Kulov, 15 votes short the minimum for confirmation, on 18 January 2007. Opposition Parliamentarian Azimbek Beknazarov told Kulov prior to the vote, "I may be wrong, but I believe your nomination will be rejected. Be brave and admit that you cannot perform your duties of prime minister. Admit that you have been unable to do so for the past year-and-a-half. I think it would be better if you refused [to be reappointed]. Be a man!"
President Bakiyev renominated Kulov the next day, since the new constitution permits the same candidate to be presented three times. The Kyrgyz Parliament's Constitution Committee ruled on 22 January 2007 that Bakiyev could not renominate Kulov because it violated the Constitution. Committee chairman Iskhak Masaliyev told Bakiyev to nominate someone else. Myrza Kaparov, Bakiyev's envoy to the Parliament disagreed, telling Parliamentarians, "We must also refer to the constitutional law on government, which says that the president has the right to submit the candidacy three times. If the Jorgorku Kenesh rejects his choice three times, you know all the consequences. Everything is clearly written in this law."
After Kulov's nomination failed for the second time on 26 January, the president nominated agriculture minister Azim Isabekov
Azim Isabekov
Azim Beishembayevich Isabekov born 4 April 1960) served as the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan from 29 January until 29 March 2007....
, a close associate of his and former deputy head of the Presidential Administration, on 26 January 2007.
In February, Kulov joined an opposition group, the United Front for a Worthy Future for Kyrgyzstan
United Front for a Worthy Future for Kyrgyzstan
The United Front For A Worthy Future For Kyrgyzstan is an alliance of political parties making up the largest political opposition organization in Kyrgyzstan. Former Prime Minister Felix Kulov leads the organization and Azamat Kalman is the party's spokesperson...
, which is calling for an early presidential election. As leader of the group, he has also supported the idea of establishing a confederation
Confederation
A confederation in modern political terms is a permanent union of political units for common action in relation to other units. Usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution, confederations tend to be established for dealing with critical issues such as defense, foreign...
with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Anti-Bakiyev protests from April 11 to April 19, 2007 culminated with clashes between the protesters and the police, and Kulov was questioned in connection with the clashes on April 21, after initially refusing to appear for questioning on the previous day. Kulov blamed the authorities for the clashes. On August 1, 2007, Kulov was charged with creating public disorder in connection with the clashes.