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Congressional
~.Research Service
Kyrgyz Voters Approve Strong Presidential
System in Constitutional Referendum
April 21, 2021
On April 11, 2021, voters in the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) approved a new constitution that returns
the country to a system of strong presidential rule after 10 years as Central Asia's only parliamentary
republic. According to preliminary data, 79% voted in favor; turnout was 37%, meeting the 30% threshold
for the referendum to be considered valid. While a strong presidency may appeal to Kyrgyz voters
frustrated with the existing parliamentary system, international observers and Kyrgyz civil society
activists warn that the new constitution may threaten Kyrgyzstan's democracy and move the country in a
more authoritarian direction. Human Rights Watch criticized the document as undermin[ing] human
rights norms and weaken[ing] checks and balances necessary to prevent abuses of power.
Background
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. Members of Congress
and other U.S. policymakers previously voiced support for consolidating Kyrgyzstan's gains as Central
Asia's only parliamentary democracy. Promoting a more inclusive and accountable democracy is a stated
U.S. goal in Kyrgyzstan, one of 21 countries worldwide that participate in the House Democracy
Partnership. Corruption is pervasive, however, and political institutions remain weak. U.S. officials and
others have expressed concerns about the influence of organized crime in Kyrgyz politics.
Kyrgyzstan plunged into political upheaval following disputed October 4, 2020, parliamentary elections
that heavily favored two pro-establishment parties; one of them was reportedly financed by Raimbek
Matraimov, a former high-ranking customs official implicated in a massive corruption scheme, while the
other had close ties to then-President Sooronbai Jeenbekov. Opposition parties alleged widespread
irregularities, including vote-buying and voter intimidation; these assertions were deemed credible by
international election observers. The country's Central Electoral Commission annulled the elections after
mass protests broke out in the capital, Bishkek. Amid the resulting power vacuum, Sadyr Japarov, a
former member of parliament who had been serving a lengthy prison sentence on charges he maintains
were politically motivated, quickly emerged as the leading contender for interim prime minister, a post he
assumed on October 14; he also became acting president on October 15, following Jeenbekov's
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN11650
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/govedaz0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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