Adakhan Madumarov gave an interview to Radio Azattyk after his release. He addressed his former colleagues in the parliamentary faction of the Jogorku Kenesh.
In response to why some deputies, who entered parliament on the list of the party "Butun Kyrgyzstan," which calls itself opposition, often express themselves and act in a way that benefits the authorities, Adakhan Madumarov said: "Let it all be on the conscience of these people. This is called hypocrisy. Such people are not only in our party, they are also found in other political organizations. There are people who enter parliament on the list of a pro-government party, but they do not approve of all the actions of the authorities and openly express their opinions.
But it also happens the other way around: they enter parliament on the list of our party, and then flatter the authorities twice as much as pro-government deputies. This is on the conscience of the individual. No charter of a political organization or the law on deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh can regulate this. This picture is present in all six parties that entered parliament."
Adakhan Madumarov accurately described what is happening in the Jogorku Kenesh. However, the root of the problem is not in human vices, hypocrisy, or lack of conscience.
Why Parliamentary Democracy Failed in Kyrgyzstan
- Parliamentary republic in Kyrgyzstan was a dream from the 2000s. The transition to parliamentarism was supposed to solve all problems with advancing democracy in the Central Asian "island." The Constitution of 2010 brought this dream closer to reality. However, it did not work out in the end. This is largely because in 30 years of independence, the country failed to create political institutions like parties.
- A real, functioning political organization is primarily based on ideology. It serves as a certain value orientation and a unifying foundation for the party. However, in Kyrgyzstan, as in many former Soviet states, parties are created as election projects. They are often hastily assembled around a politician, businessman, group of politicians or businessmen, or on the orders of the president's administration. Therefore, the names of Kyrgyz political organizations mostly do not carry any ideological load. And those that do, are forced to attract not those who share their values, but wealthy individuals who can sponsor their pre-election campaign.
- As a result, there is a "great migration" in parliament, where MPs easily leave party factions and form their own groups or simply vote as they are "asked" or based on their opportunistic considerations.
Adakhan Madumarov's Strategy
Adakhan Madumarov always employed a single strategy to enter parliament. As a representative of the ichkilik clan, he relied on ichkiliks throughout Kyrgyzstan. They were his core electorate. This strategy worked. Adakhan Madumarov was a deputy in all convocations of the Jogorku Kenesh, except the fifth and sixth, when the party "Butun Kyrgyzstan" lacked just half a percent to overcome the electoral threshold.
After being accused of state treason, Adakhan Madumarov's political career came to an end. It is easy to predict the decline of the political star of "Butun Kyrgyzstan" as a traditional party created in the leader-type fashion. However, this does not exclude the possibility that many members of Madumarov's party faction will appear on the lists of other political organizations, including ruling parties, in the next elections. As they say, C’est la vie ("Such is life").
