[citation needed] Following his education, Tursunbekov became an editor with the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic's state publishing company.

In 2016, Supreme Council President Asylbek Jeenbekov resigned his post amidst a conflict of interest with his brother, Sooronbay, who had become Prime Minister.

[3] However, he left the position the following year, ceding it to Dastan Jumabekov in attempt to "preserve the stability of the country".

[6] However, his death was announced the following day,[7] with a memorial ceremony attended by the country's political elite.

[8] Despite the negative test result, Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov made a link between Tursunbekov's pneumonia and the coronavirus only a few hours after the announcement of his death.