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KYRGYZSTAN-VOTE-UNREST
Kyrgyz leader ‘ready to resign’ to end post-vote chaos
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, Oct 9, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Kyrgyz President Sooronbay
Jeenbekov is ready to resign, he said Friday, in an abrupt about-turn after
rival politicians claiming leadership positions prepared for a confrontation
while Russia pushed security forces to restore order.
A disputed parliamentary vote has sparked a fresh crisis in the volatile
Central Asian country, triggering protests and unrest that have left at least
one dead and hundreds injured.
Jeenbekov said in an address published on the presidential website he
could resign once a date for fresh elections had been set and changes in
government had been confirmed by parliament and his office.
“We need to get the situation back to the rule of law as soon as possible.
After legitimate executive authorities have been approved and we are back on
the path of lawfulness, I am ready to leave the post of President of the
Kyrgyz Republic.”
The statement comes just hours after Jeenbekov’s press chief said the
president’s resignation was not “under question” in talks he was holding with
national political leaders.
Jeenbekov has made no public appearances since the unrest broke out
Monday.
Opposition parties claim Sunday’s election was rigged by massive vote-
buying in favour of parties close to Jeenbekov.
The results of the ballot were annulled on Tuesday, but that has done
little to ease tensions as rival politicians and their supporters press
claims to leadership posts and state institutions are in chaos.
Omurbek Suvanaliyev, who has claimed the title of national security chief
in the aftermath of clashes between police and protesters, told Russian news
agency Interfax that national borders had been closed.
The border service confirmed the closure to AFP.
Suvanaliyev is one of several politicians who claimed titles after a rally
against election results turned violent and protesters seized the main seat
of government.
On Thursday he appeared to emerge as an important player, when Kremlin
spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed he had held talks with the head of Russia’s
Federal Security Service (FSB).
The FSB was supporting the Kyrgyz security service in its efforts “to
prevent the situation in the country from sliding into chaos,” Peskov told
reporters.
Moscow said earlier this week it had beefed up security at a military base
near the capital Bishkek.
If Jeenbekov were to resign, he would become the third leader from the
former Soviet country to be felled by political unrest after uprisings
unseated authoritarian presidents in 2005 and 2010.
He has ruled Kyrgyzstan, which shares a border with China, since 2017.
– ‘Legitimise ongoing appointments’ –
Jeenbekov said that he wanted to “legitimise ongoing appointments” before
his potential resignation.
He also called on law enforcement to ensure lawmakers, whose building is
not under state control, are able to hold a session to approve the changes.
Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov was reported to have resigned Tuesday and
populist politician Sadyr Japarov positioned himself as his replacement after
he was released from jail by supporters following the violence on Monday.
Japarov’s candidacy was approved by a majority of lawmakers in an
extraordinary session in a three-star hotel after the parliament building was
seized by protesters, the parliamentary press service said.
But Jeenbekov said it was necessary to first follow procedures on the
resignation of the old government before a new one could be formed.
Japarov was serving an 11.5-year sentence for hostage-taking prior to his
release.
Prominent opposition politicians have already come out in opposition to
him, raising fears of clashes between supporters, some of whom arrived in the
capital after being bussed in from the provinces.
A furious Japarov on Thursday accused the media of blackening his name by
implying he had cut agreements with Jeenbekov and his brother Asylbek
Jeenbekov, a powerful lawmaker.
He also pledged to jail a former customs official often viewed as the
country’s main powerbroker, and accused self-appointed security chief
Suvanaliyev of undermining him.
The night of tumult that saw Japarov freed from jail also saw ex-president
Almazbek Atambayev and several of his allies released as protesters seized
government buildings and stormed into penitentiary facilities.
Supporters of Atambayev — a former ally turned foe of Jeenbekov — said
that they planned to hold a rally on Friday, and called on citizens to
“prevent the helpers” of Jeenbekov and his family coming to power.
Another protest was planned against organised crime, viewed as deeply
enmeshed with politics.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0841 hrs