Депутаттык Азилдер – Page 8/9 (6/7)

Mr. Dzhumgalbek Amanbaev used to be the First Secretary of Communist Party organization in the Issyk-Kul Region in 1990. Climbing up the communist party career ladder he served his duties as a deputy in the High Council of the SSSR. When the Party died he finally reached its top, succeeding Abzamat Masaliev as First Secretary of the Kyrgyz KP in April 1991. When voted for as premier in 1993 by the deputies in the Zhogorku Kenesh, president Akaev probably remembered Amanbaev’s support for the August Putsch and nominated second Apas Dzhumagulov, placing Amanbaev only Vice-Premier. Abdyrakhmanov remembers Amanbaevs reputation at the dawn of independence, being hailed by deputies from the Issyk-Kul regional Soviet as a potential Kyrgyz Nursultan Nazarbaev. The political observer goes on to question Amanbaevs motives, he notes his thirst for power and blames him to know nothing of the needs of the people. He concludes by asking when the Lake-Nazarbaev is finally going to start leading the people out of the mess where the Kyrgyz KP has brought them into.

Ms. Zhanyl Tumonbaeva, Abdyrakhmanov writes, figured as Minister of Foreign Affairs and deputy head of the Council of Ministers in 1990. The author wonders how this  former employee of a worsted wool kombinat and Komsomol member appeared at the political scene and in the center of power. Abdyrakhmanov suspects her of a strong adherence to Marxist ideology and criticizes her lust for power.

Депутаттык Азилдер – Page 6/7 (4/5)

Here Abdyrakhmanov presents the head of the Council of Ministers of the Kyrgyz SSR in 1990 Apas Dzhumagulov; and Zhumagul Saadanbekov, in these last days of the dying SSSR the leading ideologist of the Communist Party of the Kyrgyz SSR. Until ‘90 Saadanbekov was the chief of department for ideology of the Central Committee of the CP KSSR, before he took the position of Head of the Permanent Commission of the High Council of the Kyrgyz SSR on Culture, Education, Sport, and Tourism. After the dissolution of the Soviet System Saadanbekov got the position of the gubernator for the Issyk-Kulskaya Oblast for some time, before he left the country for becoming ambassador, first in Kazakhstan, later in the Ukraine (until 2007).

Депутаттык Азилдер – Page 4/5 (2/3)

The author picks famous writer Chingiz Aitmatov for his book’s introduction. Humorizing on the writer’s escape from the collapsing Kyrgyz SSR to his ambassodorship in Luxembourg, Abdyrakhmanov quite anticipatively criticizes the ensuing absenteeism of one of the most influential Kyrgyz public figures from the political scene.

A correct translation will follow, here only a small summarization: basically the author expresses his unhappiness with the fact, that this writer of international renown leaves Kyrgyzstan. He won’t be giving his advice and those that are in need of it will not be able to follow him into his voluntarily exile. The communist party, the author declares, stands for the old times only, unable to lead society into the future. But guidance in those difficult times  can not be expected from Aitmatov, leaving for a country that is hardly found on the map.

Депутаттык Азилдер – Page 2/3

This pages contain short information on the background of this book. Abdrakhmanov tells, how he participated as a member of the presidium of the Kyrgyzstan Democratic Movement in one of the special sessions of the Kyrgyz Supreme Soviet. He goes on explaining, that the collection of the drawings and poems are political demands, which he raised and which were shown as wallpapers in those turbulent times. Abdrakhmanov finally mentions, that the decision to publish them in a book was a quick one, so no further editing was done and he apologizes in front of the reader for any mistakes occurring.

Депутаттык Азилдер by Омурбек Абдырахман уулу

The book titled „Депутаттык Азилдер“ (The Deputy Jokes) was published in 1990 by Omurbek Abdrakhmanov. It contains more than 50 drawings, caricaturing public figures in Kyrgyzstan, that played a role in politics & society at the dawn of Kyrgyz independence. The book had an edition of 40 000 copies and cost 3 som in 1990. It is an expression of hope for a better future and it calls on those responsible for Kyrgyz public affairs to do all in their power for the country’s successful transition to democracy, market economy and freedom of speech. 18 years after the publishing the author is leaving the Kyrgyz Republic with his family to see political asylum abroad.

The small book can be valued as a rare source of public opinion on political developments in Kyrgyzstan of the early nineties. It shows, that a small democratic movement did exist in this „backyard“ of the Soviet Union. It shows, that the international discourse on change and hope for a better future was present here, that (parts of) Central Asia actually connected to the overall demand for democracy and the abandonment of Soviet Power, that swept away Eastern Europe at that time.

In the upcoming weeks I will publish the drawings and poems contained in the book. The aim is to make a little contribution to the rather unknown history of independence in Central Asia in general and Kyrgyzstan in particular.