Almazbek Atambayev throughout his rule repeatedly praised and compared himself to Ibraimov, on one occasion defending himself from allegations of nepotism by saying that he, much like Ibraimov, started out with humble beginnings.
The passage highlights a pattern in Almazbek Atambayev's actions where he frequently draws parallels with Ibraimov, especially when facing criticism about nepotism. This suggests that he uses this comparison to bolster his own image and deflect accusations of favoritism.