Kyrgyz envoy Edil Baisalov lists three political mistakes by President Sadyr Japarov

Edil Baisalov, Kyrgyzstan’s ambassador to the United States, says President Sadyr Japarov has made three political mistakes despite the country’s recent accomplishments and what Baisalov called a successful presidency overall.

In an interview with Azattyk Radio, Baisalov said Japarov had refused to create his own political party, which would have allowed him to work with all political forces. “In my view, Sadyr Japarov has three mistakes,” Baisalov said. He argued that the absence of a party and a clear team had produced a situation in which the president appeared to have broad support, but few people defended his interests.

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In my view, Sadyr Japarov has three mistakes.

Baisalov said Japarov also lacked his own team. He recalled that opinion polls had put the president’s approval as high as 97%, but said such a rise would eventually be followed by falling ratings. In his view, Japarov should say that 50% plus one vote would be enough at the next election rather than seek total support.

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Total support is not necessary, because it requires enormous resources.

“Total support is not necessary, because it requires enormous resources,” Baisalov said. “He must work for history.” He also criticized a political culture in which everyone praises the leader, saying major politics, economics and geopolitics had been reduced to the level of a kitchen conversation.

Baisalov said Kyrgyzstan lacked journalism, public criticism and high-quality analysis, while intellectuals remained silent. Asked whether the prosecution and detention of journalists, activists and government opponents reflected those weaknesses, he said a transition period had been needed to consolidate the country but acknowledged that excesses had occurred. He warned that persecuting every critic would not end well and said Kyrgyzstan lacked several important institutions, including media, public scrutiny and expertise. Despite these shortcomings, he concluded that Japarov’s presidency was succeeding.

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He must work for history.