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Askar Akayevich Akayev (born 10 November 1944 in Kyzyl-Bairak, Kyrgyzstan) has been the President of Kyrgyzstan since it declared independence.
Akayev was a non-political scientist and engineer until 1990, when he became President after elections in the Supreme Soviet. He was re-elected in 1991, and amid allegations of ballot rigging in 1995 and 2000. Initially seen as a liberal, democratic leader he has increasingly shown authoritarian tendencies and in late 2002 faced mass protests calling for his resignation. He has promised to step down from office when his current term expires in 2005, and was granted lifelong immunity from prosecution by the lower house of parliament in 2003.
He is married to Mairam Akayev with whom he has four children.
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