Bakyt Torobayev
{{Short description|Kyrgyz politician (born 1973)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Bakyt Torobayev
| image = File:Bakyt_torobayev_2016.jpg
| caption = Torobayev in 2016
| alt = A man in his 40s, attending a large international conference of politicians, smiling.
| office = Leader of Onuguu–Progress
| predecessor = position established
| office1 = Minister of Emergency Situations
| term_start1 = {{start date|2009|12|15|df=y}}
| term_end1 = 2010
| office2 = Member of the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan
| term_start2 = 16 December 2007
| birth_name = Bakyt Ergeshevich Torobayev
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|4|5}}
| birth_place = Jalal-Abad, Kirgiz SSR, Soviet Union
(now Kyrgyzstan)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Kyrgyz State National University
| party = Ak Zhol (2007–2010)
Respublika Party of Kyrgyzstan (2010–2012)
Onuguu–Progress (2012–present)
| children = 5
| father = Ergesh Torobayev
| native_name_lang = ky
| native_name = {{nobold|Бакыт Төрөбаев}}
}}
Bakyt Ergeshevich Torobayev ({{langx|ky|Бакыт Эргешевич Төрөбаев}}, {{langx|ru|Бакыт Эргешевич Торобаев}}, born 5 April 1973) is a Kyrgyz politician who has been the leader of the Onuguu-Progress party since 2013.
After working in various managerial roles, Torobayev was elected as a deputy for the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan in the 2007 parliamentary election, joining Kurmanbek Bakiyev's Ak Zhol party. After the 2010 Kyrgyz revolution in which Bakiyev was overthrown, he joined the Respublika Party of Kyrgyzstan, but clashed with party leader Omurbek Babanov, leading him to join Onuguu-Progress.
Torobayev was also an official candidate for the 2017 presidential election in Kyrgyzstan, until he withdrew nine days before the start of the election.
Early life, education and managerial career
Torobayev was born on 5 April 1973 in the city of Jalal-Abad, in south-west Kyrgyzstan (then the Soviet republic of the Kirgiz SSR). He started work in 1995 as a director of Zhamlia i K, a Kazakhstan-based{{cite web | url=http://www.spr.kz/almati-i-almatinskaya-gorodskaya-administratsiya/zhamilya-i-k.html | title=ЖАМИЛЯ И К | work=СПР.KZ | accessdate=28 August 2017 | language=ru | archive-date=25 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002625/https://www.spr.kz/almati-i-almatinskaya-gorodskaya-administratsiya/zhamilya-i-k.html | url-status=dead }} production and commercial company,{{cite web | url=http://www.stanradar.com/bio/full/141-torobaev-bakyt-ergeshevich.html | title=Досье политиков и общественных деятелей, живущих в странах Центральной Азии, либо связанных с регионом. | work=StanRadar | accessdate=28 August 2017|language=ru}} specialising in the sale of petroleum products and the construction of filling stations. Between 1998 and 1999, he worked on a farm named "Asia-Suzak" as its chairman.
He also, in 1999, graduated from the economics faculty{{cite web | url=https://centrasia.org/person2.php?st=1260865651 | title=ТОРОБАЕВ Бакыт Эргешевич | work=CentrAsia | accessdate=28 August 2017|language=ru}} of the Kyrgyz State National University with a degree in finance and credit.{{cite web | url=http://www.kenesh.kg/ru/deputy/show/41/fraction/4 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217193934/http://www.kenesh.kg/ru/deputy/show/41/fraction/4 | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 17, 2016 | title=Төрөбаев Бакыт Эргешевич | work=Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan | accessdate=25 November 2017 | language=ru }} Between 2000 and 2009, he worked as the CEO of Mariam, a flour factory.
Political career
Torobayev entered the Supreme Council after the 2007 parliamentary election as a member of Kurmanbek Bakiyev's Ak Zhol party. From 15 December 2009 to 2010, he was the Minister of Emergency Situations, which included the period of the 2010 Kyrgyz revolution.{{cite web | url=http://www.fergananews.com/articles/9190 | title=К выборам президента Кыргызстана. Бакыт Торобаев: Комбайны, лампочки и обещания | work=FerghanaNews.ru | date=8 December 2016 | accessdate=29 August 2017 | author=Travnikov, Aleksandr|language=ru}} After the overthrow of Bakiyev, Torobayev joined the Respublika Party of Kyrgyzstan, led by Omurbek Babanov. However, Torobayev and Babanov frequently clashed in the party, which led to Torobayev leaving Respublika and founding Onuguu–Progress.
In 2016, Torobayev stood as a candidate for speaker of the Supreme Council, along with Kanat Isayev of the Kyrgyzstan Party. Both failed to receive the required 61 votes to become speaker, as Isayev and Torobayev received 51 votes each.{{cite news | url=https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/kyrgyz-lawmakers-fail-to-elect-parliament-speaker/27686484.html | title=Kyrgyz Lawmakers Fail To Elect Parliament Speaker | work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | date=20 April 2016 | agency=Interfax | accessdate=29 August 2017 | location=Bishkek}}
=Onuguu–Progress=
Originally a political movement, Onuguu–Progress held its first congress on 1 February 2012, and it was formally registered as a party sixteen days later. At its second congress, on 23 April 2015, it elected Torobayev as its leader.{{cite web | url=http://www.gezitter.org/politic/39842_politicheskaya_partiya_onuguu-progress_vyibiraet_put_razvitiya_kyirgyizstana/ | title=Политическая партия "Онугуу-Прогресс" выбирает путь развития Кыргызстана | publisher=Gezitter.org | work=Press Service of Political Party "Onuguu–Progress" | date=12 May 2015 | accessdate=6 September 2017 | language=ru | archive-date=9 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191448/https://www.gezitter.org/politic/39842_politicheskaya_partiya_onuguu-progress_vyibiraet_put_razvitiya_kyirgyizstana/ | url-status=dead }} The party first stood candidates in the 2015 parliamentary election, winning 13 of the 120 seats in the Supreme Council, coming fourth.
As leader of the party, Torobayev supports the strengthening of Kyrgyzstan's parliamentary democracy and transfer of more powers from the office of the president to the office of the prime minister, while at the same time stating that "[continued discussion of whether to have a presidential or parliamentary system has] really tired people with [such] business." He has placed himself and the party under a "centrist" and "neoconservative" label, supporting property rights, a market economy and more political competition.{{cite web | url=http://www.eurasianet.org/node/82341 | title=Kyrgyzstan: New Serious Contender in Presidential Race | work=EurasiaNet | date=10 February 2017 | accessdate=15 October 2017}}
=2017 presidential campaign=
{{See also|2017 Kyrgyz presidential election}}
On 10 February 2017, Torobayev confirmed that he was running in the 2017 presidential elections;{{cite news | url=https://en.trend.az/casia/kyrgyzstan/2719455.html | title=Kyrgyz politicians announce plans to run for president | work=Trend News Agency | date=10 February 2017 | accessdate=29 August 2017 | author=Kosolapova, Elena}} on 27 June delegates from his own party unanimously confirmed that he was running under the Onuguu–Progress name.{{cite web|url=https://rus.azattyk.org/a/28581203.html|title=Партия "Онугуу-Прогресс" выдвинула своего лидера Торобаева кандидатом в президенты|publisher=|language=ru}}
After his confirmation, he tried twice to broker deals with other parties and politicians; the first in August when Torobayev announced that Onuguu–Progress would merge with two other parties, Mekenim-Kyrgyzstan and Respublika–Ata Zhurt, in an attempt to receive a better electoral vote,{{cite web | url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/08/parties-merge-in-kyrgyzstan-hoping-to-get-an-electoral-edge/ | title=Parties Merge in Kyrgyzstan, Hoping to Get an Electoral Edge | publisher=Trans-Asia Inc. | work=The Diplomat | date=8 August 2017 | accessdate=29 August 2017 | author=Putz, Catherine}} and to allow all three party leaders a government post if their candidate were to be elected president. On 4 September he announced that a conference would be held a week later to formally announce the presidential candidate of the new party,{{cite web | url=https://24.kg/biznes_info/61340_bakyit_torobaev_politicheskaya_intriga_vsegda_imeet_effekt_bumeranga/ | title=Бакыт Торобаев: Политическая интрига всегда имеет эффект бумеранга | work=24.kg | date=29 August 2017 | accessdate=4 September 2017|language=ru}}{{cite web | url=http://m.gezitter.org/interviews/62854_bakyit_torobaev_lider_partii_onuguu-progress_11_sentyabrya_proydet_syezd_novoy_partii_ofitsialno_budet_vyidvinut_edinyiy_kandidat/ | title=Бакыт Торобаев, лидер партии "Онугуу-Прогресс": "11 сентября пройдет съезд новой партии, официально будет выдвинут единый кандидат" | publisher=Gezitter.org | work=Asia News | date=4 September 2017 | accessdate=4 September 2017 | author=Muras, Kerim|language=ru}} named as "Kaira Zharaluy",{{cite web| title=Торобаев рассказал, почему не создана партия "Кайра Жаралуу"| url=http://m.gezitter.org/politic/63124_torobaev_rasskazal_pochemu_ne_sozdana_partiya_kayra_jaraluu__/| date=12 September 2017 | accessdate=22 September 2017|language=ru}} but the merger failed, as Respubika–Ata Zhurt chairman Kamchybek Tashiyev decided to support the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan for the elections. Six days later Torobayev joined up with Omurbek Babanov, agreeing that should Babanov win, he would become prime minister.{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/qishloq-ovozi-kyrgyzstan-election-rundown/28758572.html|title=Following The Twists, Turns In Kyrgyzstan's Presidential Race|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty}} Initially one of the thirteen registered candidates,{{cite web | url=https://shailoo.gov.kg/ru/vybory-prezidenta-kr-2017_/spisok-kandidatov-zaregistrirovannyh-na-dolzhnost-prezidenta-kyrgyzskoj-respubliki-2017/ | title=Список кандидатов, зарегистрированных на должность Президента Кыргызской Республики 2017 | work=Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan | accessdate=29 August 2017|language=ru}} Torobayev eventually withdrew from the race on 6 October.{{cite web|url=http://www.vesti.kg/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=48147:bakyit-torobaev-snimaet-svoyu-kandidaturu&Itemid=83|title=Бакыт Торобаев снимает свою кандидатуру|publisher=|language=ru}}
Torobayev's campaign was based upon the creation of a "dictatorship of law", where he would promote creation of jobs, especially for young people, and making sure that citizens feel "legally and socially" protected, an attempt to appeal to the city-dwelling entrepreneurial class and also to the burgeoning traditionalist electorate. He did not take up his 15-minute airtime slot on OTRK, Kyrgyzstan's national broadcaster, after the station accused his supporters of bribing voters.{{cite web|title=Бакыт Торобаев призвал бойкотировать эфиры ОТРК|url=https://rus.azattyk.org/a/28756027.html|website=Radio Azattyk|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|accessdate=25 November 2017|date=25 September 2017|language=ru}}
=Post-election=
From the fallout of Babanov failing to secure the presidency, three deputies from his party attempted to launch a leadership challenge against Torobayev; an internal vote subsequently expelled them from the party, and the newspaper Vecherny Bishkek, described by analysis site EurasiaNet as a 'privately owned government mouthpiece', made comments about how Torobayev may "lose control [...] over the Onuguu-Progress faction".{{cite web | url=http://www.eurasianet.org/node/85756 | title=Kyrgyzstan: Presidential Losers’ Grip on Parliamentary Power Base Falters | work=EurasiaNet | date=27 October 2017 | accessdate=31 October 2017}}
Personal life
References
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Category:Members of the Supreme Council (Kyrgyzstan)