Erambet's life journey is an example of resilience, dedication to work, and paternal duty. He has been raising his son on his own for many years.
Erambet Bakaev was born in 1988 into an ordinary family in the village of Jazy-Kechuu. In 2006, he graduated from school No. 6 named after T. Temirov and was drafted into the army in the same year, where he served in military unit 2022 of the Border Service in the Batken region. After returning from the army in 2008, he enrolled in the correspondence department of one of the universities in Osh and began his career in the internal affairs bodies. Like many of his peers, he started a family.
In June 2010, during the events of June, Erambet was in the Osh region, where he was performing his official duties to ensure the safety of citizens. “We helped people, transported them by car. Many ordinary people died—both Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. Those days are still etched in my memory... That’s when I realized how precious human life is. Shops in the city were closed for almost a week, and tensions reached a breaking point,” he recalls.
In June 2011, due to family circumstances, Erambet was transferred to the Kara-Kul City Department of Internal Affairs. Here, on July 7, an incident occurred that changed his life forever. “My colleague suggested taking a ride in his new car, but he didn’t have a license. He didn’t want to let me drive. We accelerated, and the car started bouncing on the uneven road... I don’t remember anything after that. I woke up when they were pulling me out of the overturned car. I couldn’t feel anything below my waist. Witnesses said the car rolled over several times. In the hospital, they couldn’t provide assistance for a long time. A doctor named Bakhram, for whom I am very grateful, examined me and called specialists who determined that I needed to be urgently taken to Bishkek. In the capital, I spent 12 days in intensive care, after which I underwent surgery. Damaged tissues were removed, and a lot of blood was drained from my lungs. I survived, but I could no longer walk. My brother took care of me around the clock, but unfortunately, he passed away later,” Bakaev shares his memories.
He never sought help from foreign doctors due to the high costs of services. “They said there was a chance to recover, but now I’m not so sure... Nevertheless, I dream of walking again and ask God for strength,” he says.
His colleague who was in the car sustained only minor injuries. Erambet's personal life has also been challenging. “My wife and I had frequent conflicts. After the accident, she called me in tears. I didn’t want to talk, but my brother convinced me, and we made up. She said she would come to take care of me. When I returned from Bishkek, she came, but later went to her parents. After 15 days, I returned, but she constantly found reasons not to come. In the end, she left for good,” the former police officer recounts.
Despite his disability, since 2014, Erambet has actively participated in sports competitions for people with disabilities, winning prizes in regional and national tournaments in arm wrestling and bench pressing.
Now he raises his son on his own. “After the divorce, I didn’t see him until 2020 when my mother-in-law called and said he had finished the third grade and could come to me for the holidays. I, of course, agreed. Every morning when I wake up and see the light, I thank God. We live together, and I cook for myself. When I saw how he grew up and started walking, I was immensely happy. I worked in a taxi service and always took him with me. My mother-in-law called again and said, ‘The child needs a father, raise him yourself.’ I was glad. Since then, we have lived together. Every time I wake up, I thank God. I take care of his upbringing and cook. Sometimes he gets upset: ‘Why doesn’t mom care about me?’ I reply: ‘She gave you life and raised you. You are still small; you will understand everything later. Everyone has their own destiny. Don’t be sad.’ I want him to become an educated, hardworking person and achieve great success. I always teach him to overcome difficulties through honest work,” Bakaev shares.
Erambet appeals to the country's leadership with a request: “We have rehabilitation centers, but almost all of them are private and expensive. For people like me, it is difficult to pay 60,000 soms a month. I ask the government to create modern and accessible rehabilitation centers for ordinary citizens,” urges Erambet Bakaev.
