Why the former president “spoke at Calvary”
Delivering to the main repressive department of his home country directly from the ladder of planes – for any other post-Soviet ex-president, such a format for ending a comfortable and well-nourished exile in Moscow would seem like an apogee of political tragedy. Former Kyrgyzstan leader Askar Akayev was never “one of many,” but he was always the only one of his kind: an idealist among cynics and realists, an occasional guest from the world of science in a battle circle where opposing political clans fiercely crushed each other. Akayev, as an idealist for whom man is much more important than political, has emerged even now. It is not a kidnapping, as many originally thought. This is a “negotiated match”, an agreement between the former and current presidents of Kyrgyzstan – the exchange of a “sincere confession” during the interrogation for the right to finally return home.
Photo: Michail Kovalev
Askar Akayev, who ruled Kyrgyzstan from 1990 to 2005, is a great example of the fact that intelligence and personal decency, the presence of strong democratic principles and the desire to do good for his country are not to be confused with a guarantee of political success. The soft and kind scientist Akayev, who came to power in an atmosphere of euphoria on a wave of expectations, faced a harsh reality a few months after the collapse of the USSR – the reality in which the country around him was crumbling, and he, formally the first person in the state, could not help. .
Naturally, Akayev was not the “absent professor” of this world. He understood perfectly well what was happening in power structures and in the country as a whole – but he understood it more as a witness and an external observer, and not as an active participant or, moreover, a leader in political processes. “This is all a clan fight!” – this is roughly how the former president of Kyrgyzstan reacted during our informal talks during the exile in Moscow to my confused questions about the numerous political scandals under his government.
The idealist Akayev simply had nothing to rely on. The second, third, and fourth in the Kyrgyz power hierarchy enthusiastically recognized the joys of the market economy and entered into dubious deals with equally dubious foreign entrepreneurs. For example, such a spicy fact: in the first years of independence, smuggled goods were exported from Kyrgyzstan, even on the personal official plane of the then Prime Minister of the country.
One of Kyrgyzstan's main economic assets, which have fallen into the hands of foreigners in conflict in recent years, is the largest gold deposit in Central Asia, the Kumtor in the Issyk-Kul region. This circumstance now allowed Askar Akayev to return to his homeland. The current President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, comes from the Issyk-Kul region. The fight against Kumtor's foreign owners is a key part of his political career and the basis of his popularity. As an opposition politician, Japarov organized rallies and mass protests under similar slogans and even tried to attack the government house in Bishkek. After becoming president, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich unleashed all state power on overseas businessmen.
In this context, Askar Akayev's statement was of particular value to President Japarov. It is not a problem to simply kick foreigners out of the mine. The problem is to ensure the “legal purity” of such exile. Kyrgyzstan is not a Russia that can afford to ignore foreign court decisions to award billions of dollars in compensation to former Yukos owners. Why would Askar Akayev help Japarov solve this problem? If you don't know Askar Akayevich personally, it may not seem necessary at all. Akayev found himself in Moscow – in a scientific career. Unlike many other great post-Soviet statesmen with scientific badges, these badges are not tricks for him and bells and whistles. Akayev is a truly outstanding scientist who makes serious scientific discoveries.
But life in Moscow was still not entirely satisfactory for the former president of Kyrgyzstan. In Akayev's eyes, Moscow is his second home, but not his first. In addition, Askar Akayevich has always longed for his political rehabilitation, the opportunity to clear his name and reputation. Under the four previous presidents of Kyrgyzstan, this was clearly impossible. The political elite in Bishkek used to hang “all the dogs” on Akayev and could not get rid of this habit. But under Japarov, everything worked – at least from the point of view of Askar Akayevich himself. The former president did not give in to persuading his family not to do risky acts and decided to return to Bishkek voluntarily.
Would this decision return to him? Due to the harshness of Kyrgyz political customs, anything is possible. However, the owners of these morals themselves will again have to take something into account – or rather someone. Namely, Vladimir Putin. Akayev has not been an active political player for a long time. But as a former fellow of the VVP in the business of heads of state and politicians, who has always been loyal to Russia, he is still believed to be under Putin's informal protection in the circle of informed people. There is no place for personal hobbies and displeasures in political analysis. But I still hope that this defense will work for Akaev. One can argue about what a politician is like, but about the fact that he is not a good and good person.