How Sadyr Japarov Came to Power: The First Episode of the Documentary Project Has Been Released
The focus of the film is the "Japarov phenomenon" and his ability to navigate one of the most challenging periods in the recent political history of the country. The main attention is given to the events from October 5 to 16, 2020, when Kyrgyzstan found itself in a state of political uncertainty.
In the film, Sadyr Japarov himself shares his memories of that time. He notes that by the morning of October 6, his supporters had gathered in the square to demonstrate their support.
Photo from the internet
“When I came out to the people after 3.5 years in prison, there were about 20,000 people in the square. I realized that this was the only hope people relied on at that time,” the president recounts in the film.
He emphasizes that he immediately urged his supporters to avoid looting and destruction: “I said: do not vandalize, do not burn. All of this is your property. I will do everything possible to justify your trust.”
A separate part of the film addresses the topic of Kumtor, which has been associated with Sadyr Japarov's name for over 15 years. It details how, in 2010-2012, as a deputy, he led a parliamentary commission investigating the activities of this gold mining site, and why the issue of nationalization was not resolved during that period.
The president explains his famous statement at the beginning of 2021, when he said that “it is too late to take Kumtor.” According to him, this was a tactical decision.
“If I had immediately said that we would take Kumtor, it could have been simply destroyed. It was a forced tactical decision,” the documentary states.
The filmmakers note that after the elections, the issue of returning the mine to state ownership was effectively resolved. In May 2021, a court ruled that Centerra Gold would pay compensation for environmental damage, after which external management was introduced, and agreements were reached that finally resolved the long-standing conflict.
The documentary highlights the key moments of Sadyr Japarov's presidential term, his views on state governance, decision-making approaches, and the changes that occurred in the power structure after 2020. The creators of the project plan to dedicate subsequent episodes to the outcomes of his rule and the most controversial decisions of recent years.
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