(Emerging Europe) Kyrgyzstan’s Central Election Commission has annulled the results of a parliamentary election held on October 4 following a day and night of violent clashes in the capital Bishkek, during which demonstrators broke into the country’s parliament. The election now looks set to be re-run.
Video footage widely distributed on social media showed people in the office of the country’s president, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, and throwing paper from windows. Parts of the parliament building at one stage appeared to be on fire. One person died and nearly 600 were injured in the unrest, according to the country’s health ministry. […]
Erica Marat however says that treating in 2005, 2010 and 2020 in the same manner is simplistic and unhelpful.
“The dynamics after 2010 were very different from 2005 and now the goals of the protests and context were also not the same,” she says. “The country is subject to all the modern problems of corruption, capital flight, enormous coercive apparatus, and lack of effective institutions. But a critical part of the public is trying again and again to create a free society represented by elected officials.” […]
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