Kyrgyz Election Update: Round Two

IWPR Central Asia

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Sunday, 20 November, 2005

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On March 10, the opposition People’s Movement of Kyrgyzstan announced the creation of the “Coordination Council of People’s Unity” - a body set up to coordinate protest actions throughout the country. Their press release reads, “People’s Unity supports demands of the people and coordinates actions aimed at achieving the resignation of President Askar Akaev, early presidential elections, the cancellation of parliamentary election results, and the scheduling of [new] parliamentary elections in six months’ time.”

On March 6, talking to a crowd of protesters in Jalalabad, People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan leader Kurmanbek Bakiev called for talks on the possibility of holding an early presidential election.

The Forum of Political Forces - a umbrella group comprising the People’s Movement of Kyrgyzstan, Atajurt (Fatherland), Jany Bagyt (New Course), the People’s Congress of Kyrgyzstan, and the Civil Union for Fair Elections – said the following day that the previous parliament should be convened immediately. Ishengul Boljurova of the People’s Movement of Kyrgyzstan and Roza Otunbaeva of Atajurt said the old parliament’s powers should be extended for a year so that it can legislate for an early presidential election.

On March 10, 23 deputies from the outgoing legislature duly gathered at the parliament building, and passed a motion of no confidence in both the president and the Central Election Commission. Their meeting took place outside the building as they were prevented from entering.

AUTHORITIES IRKED BY CONTINUING UNREST

President Askar Akaev addressed the nation on television on March 10 to discuss the current political situation. He described the current unrest as “a planned and unprecedented campaign of disruption of the parliamentary elections” which he said had been launched by a group of unsuccessful candidates. He called on the population of Kyrgyzstan to support measures designed to impose order, and to stand up to “provocateurs and irresponsible politicians”.

The following day, Akaev’s press secretary Abdil Segizbaev told journalists that the opposition is provoking the president to call a referendum to confirm his presidential powers. Commenting on the creation the People’s Unity council, Segizbaev noted that a similar campaign in 2002 had resulted in a referendum in February 2003 in which Akaev’s rule was backed by 79 per cent of voters.

Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev has taken a tough line, warning that all protest organisers risked being punished in due course. Speaking on March 5, Tanaev said the government was being patient and would not use force, he said, but it was taking note of each breach of the law.

Four days later, Tanaev criticised his ministers for not being firm enough with the protesters. In particular, he reproached the National Security Service for its failure to make timely reports to him about protest events outside the capital; and the education ministry for not preventing high school and university students from becoming involved in opposition politics.

In the southern city of Osh, mayor Satybaldy Chyrmashev warned on March 9 that the local authorities are considering introducing a state of emergency “in order to protect calm among the 500,000 residents of Osh”.

OPPOSITION WARNED NOT TO GO TOO FAR

On March 9, the Bishkek office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, issued a statement reminding people that their freedom of assembly does not extend to blocking roads and storming public buildings. Such illegal actions could draw in the security forces and result in violence, they warned.

Ambassador Marcus Muller said that despite the OSCE’s conclusions that the February 27 ballot had significant deficiencies, the election results generally reflected the will of the electorate.

GRASSROOTS PROTESTS CONTINUE

Protesters in Jalalabad remain on the main square and are still holding the regional government building.

On March 10, demonstrators in Jalalabad took an editor and cameraman from Kyrgyz state television hostage, complaining that their reporting of events in this southern region had been biased. A further four state TV cameramen who arrived from Bishkek were taken to the protestors’ headquarters. A day later, state television reported that all six journalists had been set free by police after three hours in captivity.

On March 7, around 500 people took over the district-level local government offices in the town of Uzgen, also in southern Kyrgyzstan, and ejected the officials working there. As with other protests, they were demanding the resignation of President Akaev and the cancellation of the election results.

Two days later, supporters of candidate Ishenbay Kadyrbekov, who was prevented from standing in the second-round ballot, attempted to storm the Naryn regional administration, but were stopped by police guarding the building.

Up to 1,000 supporters of candidate Akbokon Tashtanbekov, who is standing in the Kant constituency, set off on a march to the capital on March 10. Close to Bishkek, they were blocked by a police cordon and a group of state officials headed by governor of Chuy region, who was able to convince them to go back to their homes after promising to deal with their grievances.

A similar march took place in southern Kyrgyzstan. About 200 protesters from the Karakulja district - mainly supporters of opposition deputy Duyshen Chotonov who lost his seat in the first round held a demonstration when they got to the regional administration building in Osh in March 11, after walking for two days.

IDENTITY CRISIS

On March 10, a district court cancelled the election result in the Suzak-Bazarkurgan constituency on the grounds that the winning candidate Abdumutalip Hakimov has Uzbekistan rather than Kyrgyz citizenship. The court had been alerted to the passport problem after supporters of Hakimov’s opponent mounted protests.

Immediately after the court announced its decision, the judge was severely beaten up by a group of people reported to be Hakimov’s supporters.