Power vacuum in Kyrgyzstan after government falls apart after protests

Protesters chant slogans as they gather at Ala-Too Square

Credit: Anadolu

Rival groups in Kyrgyzstan were jostling for power on Wednesday night after the prime minister resigned and the president went into hiding in the face of widespread demonstrations against alleged election rigging.

Law and order was close to collapse as the Central Asian country appeared to be embroiled in its third revolution in 15 years.

In Bishkek, the capital, groups of young men, some armed with metal bars, stood outside shopping centres, offices and parliament claiming to be guarding against looting.

Reports from the regions said that mining companies had been attacked and the Telegraph can confirm that a group of 20 to 30 men tried to break into the Bishkek headquarters of the Canadian-owned Kumtor gold mine, Kyrgyzstan’s biggest industrial project.

A security guard at the business centre said that the group left after failing to break through the bullet-proof reinforced door to the office on the 10th floor of the building.

A European businessman based in Bishkek described chaotic scenes.

Protests continue in Kyrgyzstan

Credit: Anadolu

"The rule of law here is breaking and looking even more fragile than normal," he said. Young men stormed government buildings on Monday evening after protesting against vote-rigging in a parliamentary election the day before.

They threw paperwork out of the presidential administration building and photographed themselves stamping on portraits of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.

Police had tried to control the crowds using tear gas and water cannons but they appear to have been overwhelmed. It was unclear on Wednesday who is now in charge.

Mr Jeenbekov is still nominally president of this poor former Soviet republic but he has fled the capital and appears ready to resign.

"I am ready to give responsibility to strong leaders, no matter which group they belong to,” he told the BBC in a telephone interview from his hideout.

Meanwhile one opposition group, with the backing of some MPs, has promoted former prime minister Sadyr Japarov as the new Prime Minister.

Along with former president Almazbek Atambayev, protesters had sprung him from jail where he had been serving an 11-year prison sentence for kidnapping.

Rival opposition groups are resisting Mr Japarov’s elevation, apparent in speeches by leaders in the south of the country who are still loyal to Mr Jeenbekov.