How did Roza Otunbayeva lead Kyrgyzstan’s interim government in 2010?

Following the April 2010 uprising that ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Roza Otunbayeva assumed leadership as the president of the interim government.12

Her administration faced immediate challenges in consolidating power, including managing the departure of Bakiyev, who continued to claim legitimacy from exile, and addressing widespread looting and unrest. To restore order, her government authorized the use of deadly force. Otunbayeva also engaged in diplomatic outreach with leaders from the United States and Russia to stabilize the transition.12

In June 2010, her leadership was tested by severe ethnic violence in the south between the Kyrgyz majority and the Uzbek minority. Despite the instability, she was largely credited with quelling the unrest. Under her guidance, the interim government successfully held a referendum on a new constitution in late June, which was approved by a significant majority of voters. Otunbayeva remained in office until December 2011, overseeing the country’s first peaceful transfer of power following the election of Almazbek Atambayev.12