Kyrgyzstan election result declared invalid after mass protests

The central election commission of Kyrgyzstan has declared the results of the weekend’s parliamentary election invalid after mass protests erupted in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, and other cities.

Opposition supporters had seized government buildings overnight, freed the ex-president from jail and demanded a new election. Hundreds of people were hurt and one person died.

The decision was made in order to “avoid tension” in the country, the head of the commission, Nurzhan Shaildabekova, told the Interfax news agency.

Before the commission’s declaration, the president, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, had accused “certain political forces” of trying to “illegally seize power” in the country and urged the opposition to get people off the streets.

Mass protests in Bishkek and other cities in the country in central Asia broke out after the authorities announced early results of Sunday’s parliamentary election. They attributed the majority of votes to two parties with ties to the ruling elites, amid reports of vote-buying and other violations.

Supporters of a dozen opposition parties took to the streets on Monday, demanding the cancellation of the vote and a new election.

Police moved to disperse the crowds with water cannon, teargas and stun grenades; 590 people sustained injuries in clashes with police and one person died, the Interfax news agency reported, citing Kyrgyzstan’s health ministry.

The violent crackdown failed to curb the unrest, and during the night protesters broke into the government complex that houses both the parliament and the presidential office. Interfax reported that opposition supporters also took control of Bishkek’s city hall.

Another group of protesters went to Kyrgyzstan’s state committee of national security, demanding to free the former president Almazbek Atambayev, who was convicted on corruption charges earlier this year and sentenced to 11 years and two months in prison. Security officers released Atambayev after negotiations with the protesters.

Members of several opposition parties announced plans to oust Jeenbekov and create a new government.

“We intend to seek the dismissal of Sooronbai Jeenbekov from his post,” Maksat Mamytkanov, a member of the Chon Kazat party, told Interfax on Tuesday, adding that opposition parties also insisted on adopting a new constitution.

Zhanar Akayev of the Ata Meken opposition party was quoted by the Kyrgyz service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as saying that “a new prime minister and the people’s government need to be appointed”, and then “a popular election” held.

Jeenbekov on Tuesday urged leaders of opposition parties to “calm their supporters down and take them away” from the streets.

“I proposed to the central election commission to thoroughly investigate the violations (reported during the parliamentary election) and, if needed, cancel the results of the vote,” the Kyrgyz president said in a statement.

“I call on all (political) forces to put the fate of the country above their political ambitions and return to (acting) within the law,” Jeenbekov said.