In July, Kyrgyzstan topped the global statistics for mortality per capita on specific days at least 6 times. The official number of deaths during the pandemic period was 1,390; however, experts claimed that the death toll was many times higher, with excess mortality being 6,390 people. In total, international financial institutions provided the country with grants amounting to $165.8 million and loans totaling $461.5 million. ''The public and the media accused the country's authorities of excessive mortality from the coronavirus pandemic, particularly pointing out corrupt schemes involving people connected to the president's brother, Asylbek Jeenbekov.'' The amount of funds used in state procurement sometimes exceeded the market value of goods by ten times. The company "Farwater" won a bid for the supply of PPE suits for 6,000 soms, even though volunteers purchased them at prices ranging from 240 to 360 soms. In another lot won by "Farwater", respiratory masks were procured at 400 soms, although similar masks in Bishkek can be found ranging from 30 to 150 soms. Meanwhile, single-use three-layer masks from the "Farwater" tender were bought for 25 soms, even though you can find such masks for as low as 10 soms. The company was linked to the "Birimdik" party, affiliated with Asylbek Jeenbekov. According to the Ministry of Justice registry information, the founder and director of the company is Sadykova Indira Tofikovna. The name of "Farwater's" director is also listed among the founders of the president's brother Asylbek Jeenbekov's party "
Birimdik". He declared 30 July as a Day of National Mourning. That day, he took part in an Islamic religious ceremony to honour those who lost their lives from the pandemic, saying "Let the souls of our deceased compatriots rest in peace, may their souls be in heaven".
Relationship with Atambayev Since Jeenbekov took power in November 2017, he has had what can only be described as a contentious relationship with his predecessor and former ally,
Almazbek Atambayev. In the early months of his presidency, he used his position to praise Atambayev's work, even going as far giving him the title of "
Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic", which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a citizen of
Kyrgyzstan. Atambayev strongly backed Jeenbekov during the 2017 election against his opponent
Ömürbek Babanov, even referring to himself as an "older brother" to Jeenbekov. Since Atambayev left office on 24 November 2017 and handed the presidency to his successor Sooronbay Jeenbekov, he has served as head of the
SDPK. In his post presidency he got back to the political arena, most notably by criticizing his own successor. This criticism, which began in the spring of 2018, has mostly revolved around Jeenbekov's establishment of family clan regime. As Jeenbekov continued serving as president, a rift grew between the two as Atambayev later became more involved in politics in the 6 months post his presidency, eventually rising to the Chairmanship of the
Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, of which Jeenbekov was a member of. In Atambayev's remarks following his assumption to the post, he criticized Jeenbekov for his handling of the Bishkek power plant failure earlier that, as well as rebuked him for not taking steps to force his brother - Asylbek Jeenbekov - to resign from parliament. In early April 2018, Jeenbekov dismissed two high-ranking officials in the
State Committee for National Security (GKNB) who are considered to be close to Atambayev. The move was seen as an apparent jab at Atambayev and his former government. In an interview on his 60th birthday later in the year, Jeenbekov accused Atambayev of indirectly and directly trying to influence him and his presidency, saying the following to the 24 Kyrgyzstan news agency: {{Blockquote He later denied that he was fighting with Atambayev, saying at a press conference in December 2018 that his major goal was to do "nothing but to work day and night" while saying that he does "not consider anyone a rival". Due to the failed attempt by
SOBR Units to arrest Atambayev at his residence in
Koy-Tash on 7 August, which resulted in the death of one soldier, Jeenbekov came back from his vacation and called a meeting of the
Security Council, in which Jeenbekov accused Atambayev of "rudely violating the constitution". The relationship between the two and their supporters eventually became so strained that the SDPK suffered splits in 2019, and the majority of each faction formed their own parties to run in the
October 2020 Kyrgyz parliamentary election where the SDPK did not field any candidate.
2020 protests and resignation Following the
October 2020 parliamentary election,
protests broke out throughout the country, with many demanding his resignation. Earlier that August, he indicated that the elections could not be postponed in spite of the
coronavirus pandemic. During the elections, several parties close to Jeenbekov were accused of buying votes. Out of the parties that made it into parliament, only the United Kyrgyzstan party opposed Jeenbeko. On early Tuesday morning of 6 October, protesters claimed control over
Ala-Too Square in central Bishkek and also managed to seize the
White House and
Supreme Council buildings, entering the President's offices and destroying portraits of Jeenbekov. On 6 October, following the protests, the Central Election Commission annulled the results of the parliamentary elections. Jeenbekov claimed that he faced a
coup d'état, On 8 October, it was announced that his whereabouts were unknown, with the
Interior Ministry saying that it is not engaged in searching for him. Meanwhile, opposition parliamentarians launched impeachment procedures against him that day. In an address published on the presidential website on 8 October, Jeenbekov declared: "After legitimate executive authorities have been approved and we are back on the path of lawfulness, I am ready to leave the post of President of the Kyrgyz Republic". Later that day however, despite all indications of the opposite, Jeenbekov declared a state of emergency in Bishkek and ordered the deployment of the
Kyrgyz Army to the streets. He charged General
Taalaibek Omuraliev as
Chief of the General Staff to lead the response, replacing General
Rayimberdi Duishenbiev. He also sacked Omurbek Suvanaliyev, who served as the
national security chief. Jeenbekov resigned on 15 October 2020. He stated as his official reason staying not being "worth the integrity of our country and agreement in society". He also called "on Japarov and the other politicians to withdraw their supporters out of the capital of the nation and to return the people of Bishkek to peaceful lives". == Post-presidency ==