BISHKEK (TCA) — Speaking to journalists at his first annual meeting with the media as Kyrgyzstan’s president on December 19, Sooronbai Jeenbekov said that his major goal is “nothing but to work day and night for our people and our country,” RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported.
Jeenbekov also said he is not “fighting” with his predecessor, Almazbek Atambayev.
Answering a question about an ongoing standoff between him and Atambayev, Jeenbekov said, “I am not fighting anyone.”
“I do not consider anyone a rival, as I am the president and I can only have rivals during the election,” Jeenbekov said.
Jeenbekov and Atambayev, former close allies, have been at odds recently.
Limited to a single six-year term by the constitution, Atambayev tapped his prime minister, Jeenbekov, as his favored successor in the October 2017 presidential election. But the two in recent months have accused each other of a lack of professionalism.
Earlier this year, some politicians and lawmakers called for an investigation into some of Atambayev’s decisions while in office.
Several of his close allies have been arrested on suspicion of corruption.
On December 13, the Kyrgyz parliament approved in a first reading a bill that would eliminate immunity for ex-presidents, potentially opening the path for Atambayev’s prosecution.
Answering a question about the bill, Jeenbekov said that it is not targeted against Atambayev.
“The law granting immunity to ex-presidents contradicts the constitution. The bill will affect me as well. I will also leave office in future. Everyone, including presidents, must remember about accountability for their deeds. No one can be above the law,” Jeenbekov said.
In recent weeks, some members of the Atambayev-led Social Democratic Party (SDPK), of which Jeenbekov is also a member, started a campaign dubbed “SDPK without Atambayev.”
Jeenbekov told journalists that he had nothing to do with that.
“I was one of the founders of the party and it is painful for me to see what is going on there. One must look for the cause of the current situation within the party, not around Jeenbekov but in another place,” Jeenbekov said.
He did not elaborate.
Jeenbekov also said he will quit politics after his single presidential term ends in 2023.
