Felix Kulov

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Felix Kulov Феликс Кулов

10th Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic
Incumbent
Assumed office 2005-09-01
Preceded by	Kurmanbek Bakiyev
Succeeded by	Incumbent

Born	1948-10-29 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Political party	Ar-Namys

Felix (or Feliks) Sharshenbayevich Kulov (Феликс Шаршенбаевич Кулов; born 29 October 1948 in Bishkek) is the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan. He is the leader of the Ar-Namys political party and Chairman of the People's Congress of Kyrgyzstan, an electoral alliance between Ar-Namys and other parties.

[edit] Political career

Kulov initially trained as a policeman. Between 1978 and 1998 he held various posts in the Kyrgyz government, including Minister of the Interior, Minister for National Security and Governor of Chui Province. From 1992-1993 he was Vice-President, in which position he oversaw the launch of the Kyrgyz currency, the Som. However, he was forced to resign following a scandal over missing gold reserves.

From 1998 to 1999 Kulov served as Mayor of Bishkek, becoming a popular politician in the city. In 1999 he participated in the formation of Ar-Namys, becoming its first leader. In February 2000 he announced his intention to run as a member of the Supreme Council. Kyrgyz police arrested him a month later for corruption. On 22 January 2001 a military court found him guilty and sentenced him to seven years in prison. He has since been cleared of all charges against him.

[edit] Kyrgyz revolution, 2005

On March 24, 2005, Kulov was released during the Kyrgyz revolution (the Tulip Revolution) and appointed as co-ordinator of law enforcement and security services (effectively, the Kyrgyz head of security) by acting president and prime minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev. He resigned this position on March 30, saying that he had restored order.

On 6 April a special working group of the Kyrgyz Supreme Court was formed to review Kulov's earlier prosecution and convictions, and by 11 April he had been cleared of all charges.

Kulov initially announced his intention to stand as a candidate for President in the elections scheduled for 10 July. It was unclear at first whether language would be a barrier to his election: the president is required by law to be fluent in the Kyrgyz language, and in common with many from the north of the country, Kulov's native tongue is Russian. The issue became moot, however, when he withdrew his candidacy in mid-May, pledging his support to Bakiyev. At that time he was also appointed Acting First Deputy Prime Minister. He was already expected to be appointed as Prime Minister by the elected President. Bakiyev won the election in July, was officially sworn in on August 11, and did appoint Kulov acting prime minister. On September 1, 2005, Kulov was confirmed as prime minister by the Kyrgyz parliament, by a vote of 55 to 8.

[edit] External links

Preceded by Kurmanbek Bakiyev (acting)	Acting Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan 2005	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Kurmanbek Bakiyev (acting)	Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan 2005–present	Succeeded by incumbent