Japarov, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich, 1968–, Kyrgyz political leader. Elected to parliament in 2005, he was originally a member of the Ak-Jol party and a supporter of President Bakiyev. When Bakiyev was ousted in 2010, Japarov joined Ata-Jurt and won a second term. While demonstrating in favor of nationalizing the Kumtor gold mine in 2012, he and others attempted to occupy the parliament building, which led to his arrest and, in 2013, conviction. Released from prison early, he organized another protest in Oct., 2013, during which a provincial governor was taken hostage; he subsequently fled abroad. He was arrested in 2017 when he returned, and was convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to 111⁄2 years in prison. In Oct., 2020, amid unrest following disputed parliamentary elections, he was freed by supporters; his conviction was overturned, and he succeeded Kubatbek Borov as prime minister when Borov resigned. When President Jeenbekov then resigned, Japarov became acting became president as well. He resigned both posts in November to run for president in the Jan., 2021 election, which he easily won.
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