Quick Facts
Biography
Sultan Ibraimovich Ibraimov (Султан Ибраимович Ибраимов) (September 20, 1927 – December 4, 1980) was an administrator and politician in the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic. A long-time governor of Osh oblast, then comprising the entire southern part of present-day Kyrgyzstan, he rose to the position of Chairman of the Council of Ministers (i.e., Prime Minister) of the Kyrgyz SSR in 1978.
Assassination
He was assassinated on 4 December 1980 under circumstances that have never been fully explained. It was suspected that the KGB arranged his assassination on instructions from Turdakun Usubaliev, then the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic. Turdakun Usubaliev was growing uncomfortable with Ibraimov's popularity and some support that Ibraimov could get in Moscow to replace him. He is believed to have decided therefore to eliminate Ibraimov, at a time when the entire Soviet system was sinking deeply into corruption and it was easy to organise such an assassination by KGB operatives.
Legacy
Ibraimov continues to be held in high esteem in the country.
Eponyms
- Street after Sultan Ibraimov, one of the central streets in Bishkek, renamed from Pravda Street in 1993.
- Osh Kyrgyz Drama Theater named after Sultan Ibraimov in 1996.
- Papan Reservoir named after Sultan Ibraimov.
Memorials
- Sultan Ibraimov's memorial near Osh Kyrgyz Drama Theater named after Sultan Ibraimov.
Books
- Book "Sultan Ibraimov" published by his daughter Gulnara Ibraimova
Relatives
One of his three daughters, Elmira Sultanovna Ibraimova, became Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic in May 2008, but resigned from this position again in January 2009.