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1 1 (October 20, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdcix0001 and id is 1 raw text is: * Con gressio al Research Service Kyrgyz Parliamentary Elections Annulled Amid Protests and Unrest Updated October 20, 2020 The Kyrgyz Republic (commonly known as Kyrgyzstan) faces political upheaval in the wake of disputed October 4, 2020, parliamentary elections that favored pro-government parties. As a parliamentary republic that holds contested elections, Kyrgyzstan has long been considered the most democratic country in Central Asia, with a vibrant civil society and a higher degree of press freedom than found elsewhere in the region. Corruption is pervasive, however, and political institutions remain weak. Opposition parties alleged widespread irregularities in the October 4 vote, including vote-buying and voter intimidation; these assertions were deemed credible by international election observers. Mass protests broke out in the capital, Bishkek, on October 5. Protestors seized the government building that houses both Parliament and presidential offices. Hundreds, including multiple parliamentary candidates, were reportedly injured in clashes with police; one protestor was killed. On October 6, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that the October 4 results had been annulled, resulting in a power vacuum as the prime minister, the parliamentary speaker, and other officials announced their resignations. Although the term of the current parliament has not yet expired, lawmakers had difficulty establishing a quorum throughout the week of October 5, impeding attempts by some Members of Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Sooronbai Jeenbekov and making it legally impossible to appoint a new prime minister and speaker. In the early hours of October 6, protestors freed several prominent jailed politicians, including Sadyr Japarov, a nationalist former Member of Parliament who had been serving an 11.5-year sentence for kidnapping. Although the others were returned to prison, Japarov, who maintains that the charges against him were politically motivated, quickly emerged as a leading contender for the post of interim prime minister. After violent clashes between Japarov's supporters and rival groups on October 9, President Jeenbekov declared a state of emergency, which has since been lifted. Jeenbekov announced his resignation on October 15, one day after Japarov was ultimately confirmed as prime minister. Although by law the presidency should have passed to the new parliamentary speaker, Kanat Isayev, he declined the office, leaving Japarov as both prime minister and acting president. New parliamentary elections will most likely take place on December 20; a presidential election is set to follow in Januaiy. Although Kyrgyzstan's constitution bars the acting president from participating in a presidential election, Japarov has raised the possibility of amending the law, which may require a national referendum. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress. gov IN11517 CRS WNSEGHT Prepared for Mehmbers and Commit tees of Congress ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

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