
Almazbek Atambayev rose to the presidency of Kyrgyzstan after winning the 2011 election in a decisive victory. Securing 63% of the vote in a turnout of around 60%, he defeated Adakhan Madumarov of the Butun Kyrgyzstan party and Kamchybek Tashiev of the Ata-Zhurt party. His presidency marked a continuation of Kyrgyzstan's transition towards a parliamentary democracy following the 2010 revolution.
Shortly after taking office, Atambayev sought to strengthen international ties, particularly with Turkey and Russia. In 2011, during a visit to Turkey, he signed an agreement to enhance bilateral trade, aiming to increase trade volume from $300 million to $1 billion by 2015. Turkey also pledged significant investment in Kyrgyzstan, projecting $450 million in new projects.
Atambayev cultivated strong ties with Russia, emphasizing Kyrgyzstan’s strategic alignment with Moscow. His government advanced Kyrgyzstan's integration into the Russian-led Eurasian Customs Union, signaling a commitment to closer economic and political relations with its northern neighbor. A major policy move under his administration was the removal of the American military base from Kyrgyzstan in 2014, a decision that reinforced his pro-Russian stance.
While favoring strong economic ties with Russia—whose labor market provided jobs for approximately 500,000 Kyrgyz citizens—Atambayev also aspired to reduce Kyrgyzstan's reliance on Russian energy. He emphasized the importance of diversifying Kyrgyzstan’s economy and pursuing energy independence, signaling a pragmatic approach to foreign policy.
Atambayev's tenure reflected a balancing act between maintaining critical alliances and advancing Kyrgyzstan’s national interests in an increasingly interconnected and competitive geopolitical environment.