Kyrgyzstan has had six people serve as president since it became independent in 1991: Askar Akayev, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Roza Otunbayeva, Almazbek Atambayev, Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Sadyr Japarov. The country’s first president took office in 1990, before independence; Japarov has been president since January 2021.
From Soviet republic to independent state
Kyrgyzstan, then known as the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic, declared independence from the Soviet Union on 31 August 1991. Akayev had already been elected president by the republic’s legislature in October 1990, so he was both the first president of the Soviet-era republic and the first president of independent Kyrgyzstan. This distinction explains why accounts sometimes give 1990 as the beginning of the presidency and others use 1991.
The office and its political environment have changed considerably since independence. Kyrgyzstan has experienced competitive elections, constitutional revisions, mass protests and changes of government. Unlike a simple succession of presidents at regular intervals, its modern history includes two revolutions that forced incumbents from office and an interim presidency.
Presidents in chronological order
- Askar Akayev (1990–2005): Elected in 1990, Akayev led Kyrgyzstan through independence and its early post-Soviet years. He remained in power through successive elections and constitutional changes. Large demonstrations following the disputed 2005 parliamentary elections—the events commonly called the Tulip Revolution—drove him from office; he left the country and later resigned.
- Kurmanbek Bakiyev (2005–2010): Bakiyev emerged as the principal leader after the 2005 upheaval and became president that year. Protests and violence in April 2010 ended his rule. He fled Kyrgyzstan, and an interim government took over.
- Roza Otunbayeva (2010–2011): Otunbayeva led the interim government after Bakiyev’s departure and became president under the transition arrangements. She is widely described as Kyrgyzstan’s first female president. Her tenure was transitional rather than a normal elected presidential term; she did not run in the subsequent presidential election.
- Almazbek Atambayev (2011–2017): Atambayev won the 2011 presidential election and served one term. Kyrgyzstan’s constitutional arrangements at the time limited presidents to a single six-year term, and he left office when his term ended.
- Sooronbay Jeenbekov (2017–2020): Jeenbekov succeeded Atambayev after winning the 2017 election. He resigned in October 2020 amid unrest following disputed parliamentary elections, saying he wanted to prevent further confrontation.
- Sadyr Japarov (2021–present): Japarov rose to prominence during the October 2020 political crisis. After serving briefly as acting president, he won the January 2021 presidential election and took office that month. He was reelected in 2021? No: his election to the presidency was in January 2021, and he remains the incumbent as of November 2026.
The chronology counts people who held the presidency, not only presidents elected in an ordinary nationwide vote. That is why Otunbayeva belongs in the list even though she headed a transitional arrangement.
Why presidents left office early
Two presidents were removed from power by popular uprisings: Akayev in 2005 and Bakiyev in 2010. Their departures are often discussed as part of Kyrgyzstan’s “revolutions,” but the circumstances were distinct episodes, each involving political grievances, protests and disputes over elections or governance. The label does not mean that presidential transitions have always been violent: Atambayev completed his term, while Jeenbekov resigned during the crisis of 2020.
The 2010 transition also illustrates why interim leadership matters. Otunbayeva became head of state during a period when institutions were being reorganized, then handed power to an elected successor. She is therefore not an exception to the presidential timeline, but her role differs from that of presidents whose authority came through a standard presidential election.
How the presidency and constitution have changed
Kyrgyzstan’s constitution and balance of power have been revised repeatedly. At different times, the presidency has been stronger or more constrained relative to parliament and the government. These revisions affect how authority is exercised, but they do not change the basic historical answer: six people have served as president since independence.
A 2010 constitutional settlement strengthened parliament compared with the powerful presidential model associated with earlier years. Constitutional changes approved in 2021 shifted the system back toward a stronger presidency. The details of presidential authority therefore depend on the constitutional framework in force during a particular administration; “president” does not describe an identical level of power across all six presidencies.
Common points of confusion
- Does the list start in 1990 or 1991? Akayev became president in 1990, when Kyrgyzstan was still a Soviet republic. Independence came in August 1991, so a list specifically of presidents of independent Kyrgyzstan starts with his presidency after independence.
- Was Otunbayeva elected president? She led the interim government and served as president during the transition after 2010. Her status and route to office were different from those of presidents elected in regular nationwide presidential contests.
- Is Japarov the sixth or seventh president? He is the sixth person to serve as president of independent Kyrgyzstan when Otunbayeva is included. Counting only presidents who won a regular presidential election can produce a different number, because it excludes transitional leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first president of Kyrgyzstan?
Askar Akayev was elected president in October 1990, before Kyrgyzstan became independent. He was the first president of independent Kyrgyzstan as well.
Who is the current president of Kyrgyzstan?
Sadyr Japarov is the current president. He won the January 2021 presidential election and took office that month.
How many presidents has Kyrgyzstan had since independence?
Six people have served: Akayev, Bakiyev, Otunbayeva, Atambayev, Jeenbekov and Japarov. This count includes Otunbayeva’s transitional presidency.
Who was Kyrgyzstan’s first female president?
Roza Otunbayeva, who led the country during the transition following the 2010 uprising, is widely recognized as its first female president.
Why did Kyrgyzstan have several presidents leave before their terms ended?
Akayev and Bakiyev were driven from office during major political upheavals, and Jeenbekov resigned during unrest in 2020. These episodes reflect recurring political crises, not a single routine succession pattern.
At a glance
The straightforward answer to “Presidents of Kyrgyzstan since?” is: since independence in 1991, the country has had six presidents, beginning with Askar Akayev and currently led by Sadyr Japarov. The key qualification is that Akayev’s presidency began in 1990, before independence, while Otunbayeva served in a transitional role between Bakiyev and Atambayev.
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