Akayev was a human being who made mistakes

The Provisional Government of Kyrgyzstan has signed a decree on removing the immunity of the first president Askar Akayev. The decision provoked a mixed reaction from experts and in political circles. Adil Toganbaev, Leader of the Kazakh National Congress, replies.

Adil Toyganbaev, the leader of the Kazakh National Congress, on the Decree of the Provisional Government of Kyrgyzstan:

— In my opinion, this decision is inappropriate and shameless. To oppose the Akayev period and point out some of his negative things is the moral right of the authorities taking a position in the country for the welfare of its people. Today, even the opponents of the first president cannot say that the situation in the country has improved. These people, under whom the country fell into mass killings and burning people alive, have no right to talk about violence in the past. They should look at themselves first and foremost. There is a difference between the authorities suppressing Osh and losing it. No, they have no right to judge the actions of other, civilized, legitimate and answerable to history, presidents.

Askar Akayevich made mistakes because he is only human. Not in the Akayev period we are discussing now, though objectively in today's Kyrgyzstan the years of his rule are already seen as a golden age. We are talking of people who have embezzled legislative, executive and judicial authority and are now laying claim to the court of history. Competent lawyers have indicated to them that the content of the decree is legally illiterate and the manner of its adoption is illegal. It is an absolute outrage.

They have not saved the country from sinking back into the Middle Ages. Today they need to at least want to save it from sliding back to a primitive communal system and provide their people with water, bread and warmth, instead of which they are waging war on Askar Akayev. This is a frank admission that they cannot cope with the problems facing them and the best they can do is explain that their problems were created by others. Against the backdrop of national economic collapse under Akayev, it is admittedly, very handy to remember this.

This is the behaviour of irresponsible, cowardly people. They are ready to look pathetic — because you know they see that the world community and Russia do not perceive their legislative zeal. Russia actually acted as the negotiating party, which defined how AAA could abdicate early and will not talk at their level, which they know in advance, making themselves look pathetic and ridiculous.

There is nothing left to say about this. Akayev is protected by the law and international law, and as such, does not need special protection from Otunbayeva. The issue is – one should pity this country, which is ruled by amateurs and is like Central African cannibalistic regimes, a model for villainy, violence and mass murder. The worst of Bakiev’s regime have come to power. In principle, their sleaze puts them firmly in the camp of the second president.

Every single one of them was Bakiev’s – all of them nested in his despotic presidency, cosied up to him and worked in senior positions. And they all share one thing – they were all used by Bakiev’s regime and then thrown in the dustbin and not because they are special people who reject time-serving and toadyism. If that had been the case they simply would not have touched this power. The Bakiev regime simply considered them incompetent and unprofessional.

And subsequent events have shown that in that, the Bakiev regime was absolutely right.