In the power struggle in the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, President Sooronbay Dscheenbekov has resigned. “I’m not holding onto power,” he said on Thursday in the capital, Bishkek.
He does not want to go down in history as the head of state “who allowed blood to be shed and allowed his people to be shot,” said Dscheenbekov in a speech published by his office.
The 61-year-old had only been in office since 2017. After the parliamentary election on October 4, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud, he had signaled his withdrawal, but left the timing open. Dscheenbekov argued that a change of president in the midst of a political crisis would throw the country into chaos. Demonstrators in the high mountain country on the border with China had repeatedly called for his resignation.
On Wednesday, the new Prime Minister Sadyr Shaparov insisted that Dscheenbekow resign from office. The background to this is the parliamentary elections accompanied by forgeries more than a week and a half ago. Two parties related to the government received the most votes. Many opposition parties, on the other hand, missed their entry into parliament.
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Thereupon there were bloody protests with hundreds injured and at least one dead. Protesters stormed government buildings. The election commission then canceled the result. There should be a new election in the ex-Soviet republic in the coming weeks.
During the protests, Shaparov was released from prison by supporters. He was accused of taking a senior state official hostage during protests in 2013. At first, Dscheenbekow did not want to recognize him as the new head of government. Several groups are fighting for influence in the country. Russia warned of political chaos. Kyrgyzstan is a close ally of Russia, which maintains an air force base in the country. A night curfew has been in effect in Bishkek since the weekend. Protests are therefore prohibited. (dpa, AFP, Reuters)
