ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated via telegram Sooronbay Jeenbekov on his election as President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Akorda press service reported.
Nazarbayev said he believes Jeenbekov’s presidency will be good for the Kyrgyz Republic and that Kazakh-Kyrgyz Republic cooperation will continue under Jeenbekov’s leadership.
“I believe that Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan’s relations based on cooperation will continue to develop for the benefit of both of our countries. I wish you health and success in a responsible post, and I wish peace and prosperity to the entire brotherly Kyrgyz people,” the telegram reads.
Jeenbekov won 54 percent of the votes in an Oct. 15 election, according to the preliminary results. His main rival, Omurbek Babanov was second with 34 percent of votes. Turnout was 56 percent of three million eligible voters. The official outcome will be announced Nov. 7.
Jeenbekov served as Kyrgyz Prime Minister from April 13, 2016 until Aug. 21, when he resigned after having been named a candidate for presidency from the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan.