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Kyrgyzstan's parliament approves Abylgaziyev as new prime minister

Friday, 20 April 2018 1:44 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 20 April 2018 1:46 PM ]

Newly appointed Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkaliy Abylgaziyev addresses lawmakers during a parliament session in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 20, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

Kyrgyzstan's parliament has approved Mukhammedkaliy Abylgaziyev as the country’s new prime minister after he was nominated by the Social Democratic party, which leads the ruling coalition.

The parliament named the 50-year-old, who was previously the chief of staff in President Sooronbai Jeenbekov's office, as the new premier on Friday, a day after lawmakers voted to dismiss the government of Prime Minister Sapar Isakov.

One hundred and fourteen lawmakers of the 115 present voted to approve Abylgaziyev's cabinet.

The government reshuffle completes a series of moves taken by Jeenbekov since he was elected last November to remove those appointed by the former leader and one-time ally Almazbek Atambayev to key positions in the Central Asian country.

Since its independence in 1991, Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic hosting a Russian military air base, has been plagued by volatility. Political crises turned into violent revolutions in 2005 and 2010.

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