Sadyr Japarov (left) and Almazbek Atambayev. Photo: nazarnews.org.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree stripping Almazbek Atambayev of all state awards.
The former president has been deprived of the highest distinction of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Baatyry (Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic), the Manas Order, Second Class, the Danker Order, as well as the Dank Medal.
The Bailiff Service under the Prosecutor General’s Office has been instructed to confiscate the state awards and accompanying certificates from Atambayev and transfer them to the State Awards Fund.
The decree was signed in execution of a verdict handed down by the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek on June 3, 2025. In the case related to the Koi-Tash events, Atambayev was sentenced in absentia to 11.5 years in prison, with confiscation of property and deprivation of state awards. Japarov called the verdict harsh and said he was ready to grant a pardon if the convicted man’s representatives submitted a corresponding request to the authorities.
ℹ️ Almazbek Atambayev served as president of Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2017. In August 2019, the State Committee for National Security attempted to detain the politician at his residence in Koi-Tash, a suburb of Bishkek, but Atambayev’s supporters resisted. One security officer was killed and more than 100 people were injured.
The trial over the Koi-Tash events began in 2022. Later, episodes related to corruption were added to the case. In February 2023, Atambayev, the main defendant, was released from custody to undergo medical treatment abroad. He flew to Spain and did not return to the country. In September 2025, court bailiffs forcibly evicted the former president’s family from the house in Koi-Tash.
