Kyrgyz President shows off guitar skills in new track dedicated to his mother

Hot on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s widely reported piano performance, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev has shown he’s more than just a leader with the recent release of his two new guitar ballads.

The two tracks are accompanied by slick professional music videos, made by local studio Toptash.

Released just before Kyrgyz Mother’s Day on 21 May, his self-penned Enekem is dedicated to the president-cum-musician’s own mother.

“In my life, my mother has played a special role. If it weren’t for my mother, I think I wouldn’t have been able to achieve a hundredth of what I’ve done,” Mr Atambayev stated at a prizegiving ceremony for mothers, according to the Kyrtag news site. The video for Enekem features views of the president’s native village in the Chui region.

Two days later came another touching track, simply titled I love you.

While these songs are not the first to be released by Mr Atambayev, they are the first to show off his guitar skills.

“Well done Atambayev, you’re no ordinary man,” commented one impressed YouTube viewer.

Although it seems unlikely given his penchant for detaining opposition leaders, should he want to give up the day job, it seems Mr Atambayev would not be short of groupies.

Source: BBC News