7 April: the April events

April 7 in Kyrgyzstan is a public holiday - the Day of the April Revolution, which is the officially holiday from 2016.

Background

Modern Kyrgyzstan has experienced two revolutions coupled with a change of power. The first occurred on March 24, 2005 and entered the country's history as bloodless, since the removal and resignation of President Askar Akayev was almost peaceful, although there were clashes between the police and opposition supporters. The reason for the revolution was the February parliamentary elections, the result of which was questioned by representatives of the political opposition. The meetings swept across the country, and by March 24, 2005 reached Bishkek. As a result of clashes between police and protesters, the Government House was captured. The President himself left the country with his family at that time. As a result of the new presidential election, one of the leaders of the opposition forces, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, took the presidency.

The crises devastated the Republic’s economy. Major budget revenue generating enterprises, national strategic pillars such as mining, power and others worked not for the state but for one family.

Corruption was flourishing, law enforcement, judges, local authorities dealt with every issue by way of money only. The state positions were given away to family members, same clan members, favoritism was going strong.

Education, culture and qualification of public officers declined drastically, this caused major annoyance in the public.

Another reason of Bakievs’ regime collapse was confrontation between the power and the public, and a lot of outstanding social and economic issues that hadn’t been addressed for a long time.

The patience of people longing for justice was exhausted thus resulting in the revolution and overthrow of Bakiev.

7 April 2010

On April 7, 2010, a new revolution took place in Kyrgyzstan caused by discontent with the rule of Bakiyev. He, like the former head of state, was accused of usurping power and departing from the principles of democracy. But the second popular revolution in Kyrgyzstan cannot be called peaceful or bloodless, since the events were marked by the death of people. Shots sounded from both sides - from the side of the presidential guard, and from the representatives of the opposition, protesting and storming the government buildings. As a result of the actions of the opposition, the buildings of the Parliament and the television center were seized, the building of the General Prosecutor’s Office was burned down. President Bakiyev escaped from Bishkek, and then the country. Official power passed to the Interim government.

Then, during the confrontation, more than 80 people died. New victims brought unrest that swept the country after the April events and turned into an interethnic bloody conflict.

Remembrance

In December 2011, by the Decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic - April 7, was approved as April Revolution Day. And in 2016, amendments were made to the current legislation, according to which, starting from 2016, the April Revolution Day was declared a non-working day. And today, throughout this country, many celebratory events and mass celebrations have been timed to this day, in honor of the people's victory in the struggle for the democratization. Mourning events in memory of those killed in those days usually held at the Monument to the memory of those killed for thefreedom of the people during the April 2010 events.

Names of the fallen

Remembering April 7th is an act of honoring the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the bright future of Kyrgyzstan. The Bala-Beyit Memorial Complex, located next to Ata-Beyit, serves as a monument to the struggle against historical injustice.