BISHKEK, November 24. /TASS/. Kyrgyzstan’s new President Sooronbay Jeenbekov officially took office on Friday, the presidential press service told TASS.
The inauguration ceremony was held at the Ala-Archa state residence in the capital of Bishkek. Jeenbekov swore an oath, vowing to adhere to the Central Asian republic’s constitution and "defend people’s unity, integrity and security of the state."
"After that, Jeenbekov and the republic’s former president Almazbek Atambayev together went to the parliament’s building, where the presidential administration is also located, so that Atambayev could personally accompany the new head of state to his cabinet," the press service said.
Jeenbekov, who formerly served as the prime minister, was nominated for the president by the Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan in summer 2017. During the October 15 elections, he was backed by more than 54% of voters, securing victory already in the first round.
Jeenbekov’s assumption of office is the first peaceful power transfer in Kyrgyzstan’s contemporary history. The two former presidents, Askar Akayev and Kurmanbek Bakiyev, were toppled during the revolutions and fled the country.
Atambayev was unable to run in this year’s election as the country’s law bans Kyrgyz citizens from serving as president for more than one six-year term.