Protesters storm Kyrgyzstan parliament and security headquarters before freeing former president

People stand by a burned out vehicle in central Bishkek after a protest against the results of the 2020 Kyrgyz parliamentary election

Credit: TASS

People protesting the results of a parliamentary election in Kyrgyzstan broke into government and security headquarters early on Tuesday, as fires broke out and opposition tried to control the capital, local news websites Akipress and 24.kg reported.

The thousands-strong protests broke out after two establishment parties, one of which is close to President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, swept Sunday’s vote, according to preliminary results.

Police had dispersed the rally late on Monday, but protesters returned to the central square of capital Bishkek hours later and broke into the building that houses both the president and parliament. The building known locally as the White House was on fire on Tuesday morning.

Protesters then broke into the headquarters of State Committee on National Security and freed former president Almazbek Atambayev, who was sentenced to a lengthy prison term this year on corruption charges after falling out with his successor, President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.

The courtyard of the White House building that houses Kyrgyzstan's Presidential Administration and Parliament

Credit: TAS

Mr Jeenbekov said late on Monday he would meet on Tuesday with the leaders of all parties that had taken part in the election.

Meanwhile, opposition groups appointed their own acting head of national security and named a commandant of Bishkek although it was unclear how much actual power they wielded.

The Central Asian country of 6.5 million, which is closely allied with Russia, has a history of political volatility. In the past 15 years, two of its presidents have been toppled by revolts.