Election Commission Invalidates General Election Results
Attempts to Stabilize Political Situation by Replacing Prime Minister with Opposition Figure
Protesters Demand Resignation of President Sooronbay Jeenbekov
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan has annulled the results of the parliamentary election amid allegations of electoral fraud. Protesters who occupied government buildings and demanded a rerun of the election are now calling not only for the annulment of the election but also for the resignation of President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, intensifying the political turmoil.
Kyrgyzstan protesters opposing the general election results are occupying government buildings while demonstrating. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]
On the 6th (local time), the Kyrgyzstan Central Election Commission invalidated the results of the parliamentary election held on the 4th, citing widespread violations of election laws.
The Kyrgyzstan Election Commission plans to set a schedule for a rerun within two weeks.
After the announcement of the election results, in which the ruling party won a landslide victory, protests condemning electoral fraud erupted nationwide in Kyrgyzstan. The protesters took a fierce stance, occupying not only the parliament building but also government offices such as the Ministry of Interior. They pulled government documents out onto the streets and burned them, creating a chaotic scene.
During the protests against electoral fraud, one person lost their life and 600 were injured.
Following the resignation of Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov, opposition figure Sadyr Japarov was appointed acting prime minister. The opposition decided to form a transitional government with the current parliament and hold new elections. Due to the protesters occupying the parliament, even the opposition had to hold meetings at a hotel to manage the political situation.
Although the election results have been annulled and the opposition has stepped forward with measures to stabilize the political situation, the turmoil appears to be worsening. Protesters are demanding the resignation of President Jeenbekov. Additionally, the protesters freed former President Almazbek Atambayev from a detention center under the State Committee for National Security (KGB). Atambayev is known for advocating the overthrow of what he called a "criminal government."
President Jeenbekov criticized the protesters as "political forces attempting to illegally seize state power." He also requested that "all political forces calm their supporters and persuade the protesters to disperse from their current gathering."
The Washington Post (WP) reported that in Kyrgyzstan, anti-government protests in 2005 and 2010 had previously led to changes in presidential decrees. Experts analyzing the recent anti-government protests in Kyrgyzstan pointed out that "government responses to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and regional disparities between the north and south have accumulated political grievances," and that "widespread vote-buying during the election process triggered the anti-government protests."
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