Two young people in front of a billboard of two candidates for the Kyrgyz legislature in Koy-Tash – AFP
Kyrgyzstan is holding legislative elections this Sunday (28) amid tensions over the assertion of authorities that they have foiled a coup d’état.
Since its independence in 1991, this former Soviet Republic of Central Asia, bordering Kazakhstan and China, three of its leaders have been forced out of office after violent protests in 2005, 2010 and 2020.
Incumbent President Sadyr Japarov, who rose to power after clashes after the October 2020 legislatures, enjoys substantial popular support that should result in a loyal parliament.
However, its critics say its tendencies are authoritarian, illustrated by the detention of rivals and a reform that reinforced its powers at the expense of the deputies.
This Sunday, 21 parties and hundreds of candidates participate in elections to divide the 90 seats in Parliament.
The polling centers opened at 8:00 am (23:00 am on Saturday GMT) and the first results are expected shortly after they close at 8:00 pm (11:00 am EDT).
President Japarov voted in Bishkek, the capital, and asked his compatriots to do the same for the “future” of the country.
The elections test the stability of this Muslim-majority, 6.5 million-inhabitant state, known as much for its political crises as its beautiful mountain landscapes and nomadic traditions.
Many of the voters interviewed by AFP in Bishkek on Sunday had hoped the vote would lead to appeasement.
“I want the elections to be civilized and honest. I want to live in a nice country, not like in the last 30 years,” said Liudmila Pavlova, 58, a member of the Russian minority.
At noon (local time), the turnout was 16%, according to the electoral commission.
Proof that the situation remains uncertain, the State National Security Committee announced on Friday the arrest of 15 people, including several deputies, accused of planning a coup d’état.
Authorities did not give names, but Erkin Bulekbayev, leader of the little-known Green Party, told AFP that three of its members were among those arrested.
According to the Committee, the suspects wanted to incite “a thousand aggressive young people” to demonstrate to cause chaos after today’s vote.
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