Politics of Kyrgyzstan

Unlike its authoritarian neighbors – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan has had a more pluralistic political system since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Kyrgyzstan has swung between authoritarian and democratic forms of government.^[2] Three authoritarian presidents have been ousted from office since 2005 due to popular protests.^[2]

Political history

In the first years of Kyrgyzstan's full independence, President Askar Akayev appeared wholeheartedly committed to the reform process. However, despite the backing of major Western donors, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kyrgyzstan had consequential economic difficulties from the outset. These came mainly as a result of the breakup of the Soviet trade bloc, which impeded the Republic's smooth transfer to a free-market economy.

In 1993, allegations of corruption against Akayev's closest political associates blossomed into a major scandal. One of those accused of improprieties was Vice President

A new

Elections for the two legislative chambers – a 35-seat full-time assembly and a 70-seat part-time assembly – were held in February 1995 after campaigns considered remarkably free and open by most international observers, although the election-day proceedings were marred by widespread irregularities. Independent candidates won most of the seats, suggesting that personalities prevailed over ideologies. The new Parliament convened its initial session in March 1995. One of its first orders of business was the approval of the precise constitutional language on the role of the legislature.

Kyrgyzstan's independent political parties competed in the 1996 parliamentary elections. A February 1996 referendum – in violation of the Constitution and the law on referendums – amended the Constitution to give President Akayev more power. It also removed the clause that parliamentarians be directly elected by universal suffrage. Although the changes gave the President the power to dissolve Parliament, it also more clearly defined Parliament's powers. Since that time, Parliament has demonstrated real independence from the executive branch.

An October 1998 referendum approved constitutional changes, including increasing the number of deputies in the upper house, reducing the number of deputies in the lower house, rolling back Parliamentary immunity, reforming land tender rules, and reforming the state budget.

Two rounds of Parliamentary elections were held on 20 February 2000 and 12 March 2000. With the full backing of the United States, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported that the elections failed to comply with commitments to free and fair elections and hence were invalid. Questionable judicial proceedings against opposition candidates and parties limited the choice of candidates available to Kyrgyz voters, while state-controlled media reported favorably on official candidates only and government officials put pressure on independent media outlets that favored the opposition.

In 2002

As May approached the authorities further extended their hold on power, imprisoning the vocal former presidential ally,

In November the President faced yet more protests, as the opposition announced it would march on the capital and demand his resignation. The police reacted by arresting large amounts of demonstrators, further adding to international disapproval at the authoritarian nature of Akayev's government.

By June 2003, the lower house of Parliament announced that President Akayev and two other leaders^[who?] of Kyrgyzstan, from the Soviet era, would be given lifetime immunity from prosecution, raising the prospect of Akayev finally stepping down.

In 2005, following disputed results of the

In 2006, Bakiyev faced a political crisis as thousands of people demonstrated in a series of protests in Bishkek. They accused him of reneging on promised constitutional reforms limiting presidential power and giving more authority to the parliament and cabinet. They also accused him of failing to eradicate corruption, crime, and poverty.^[3] Bakiyev in turn accused the opposition of plotting a coup against him. Several parliamentarians had been killed during the political unrest.^[4]

The arrest of an opposition figure on 6 April 2010 in the town of Talas led opposition supporters to protest.[11] The protestors took control of a governmental building, demanding a new government. Riot police were sent from Bishkek, and managed to temporarily regain control of the building. Later the same day several more opposition figures were arrested, while the government claimed to have regained control of the situation. The following day, however, hundreds of opposition supporters gathered in Bishkek and marched on the government headquarters. Security personnel attempted to disperse the protestors with the use of stun grenades and live rounds, at the cost of dozens of lives. The protests continued, however, resulting in the flight of President Bakiyev to his southern stronghold of Jalalabad, and the freeing later the same day of the arrested opposition figures. A new government was formed under opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva, while Bakiyev remained for several days in southern Kyrgyzstan, before fleeing to Belarus, where he was given asylum by President Lukashenko. The new interim government held consultations on a new constitution, intended to increase the powers of the parliament and reduce those of the president. A referendum was held on the resulting document on 27 June 2010, and was approved by over 90% of voters, with a turnout of 72%.^[12] Elections were subsequently held on 10 October 2010. These elections resulted in five parties reaching the 5% threshold necessary to enter parliament.

Presidential elections were held in 2011, resulting in the victory of

In April 2021, the majority of voters approved in the constitutional referendum a new constitution that would give new powers to the president, strengthening significantly the presidency.^[20]

Executive branch

The president is elected by popular vote for a maximum of two five-year terms. The chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council.^[21]

Cabinet of Ministers

Akylbek Japarov Government

Since 13 October 2021:^[22]

• Chairman of the cabinet of ministers – Akylbek Japarov
  • First Deputy Chairman – Arzybek Kojoshev
  • Deputy Chairman – Edil Baisalov
  • Deputy Chairman – Bakyt Torobaev
  • Deputy Chairman, Head of SCNS – Kamchybek Tashiev
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Jeenbek Kulubaev
• Minister of Agriculture
  – Askar Janybekov
• Minister of Digital Development – Talantbek Imanov
• Minister of the Economy – Daniyar Amangeldiev
• Minister of Education and Science – Almazbek Beishenaliev
• Minister of Emergency Situations
  – Boobek Ajikeev
• Minister of Culture, Information and Tourism
  – Azamat Jamankulov
• Minister of Finance – Almaz Baketaev
• Minister of Health Care – Jarkynbek Kasymbekov
• Minister of Internal Affairs – Ulan Niyazbekov
• Minister of Justice – Ayaz Baetov
• Minister of Transport and Communication – Erkinbek Osoev
• Minister of Energy – Doskul Bekmurzaev
• Minister of Labor, Welfare and Migration – Kudaibergen Bazarbaev
• Minister of Defence – Baktybek Bekbolotov
• Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision – Dinara Kutmanova

Legislative branch

In the Soviet era, Kyrgyzstan had a unicameral legislature which was replaced in 1995 by the

In 2005, as part of the 2005 election process and in accordance with a 2003 referendum, the Parliament again became unicameral. The Legislative Assembly (Myizam Chygaruu Jyiyny) had 75 members, elected for five-year terms from single-seat constituencies.[24]

However, because of the political unrest, a new constitutional referendum was held on 21 October 2007 which approved a new electoral system, enlarged the parliament to 90 members and introducing party-list voting.

2017 presidential elections

2015 parliamentary elections

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Social Democratic Party	435,968	27.35	38	+12
Respublika–Ata Zhurt	320,115	20.08	28	–23
Kyrgyzstan Party	206,094	12.93	18	New
Onuguu–Progress	148,279	9.30	13	New
Bir Bol	135,875	8.52	12	New
Ata Meken Socialist Party	123,055	7.72	11	–7
Butun Kyrgyzstan–Emgek	97,869	6.14	0	0
Zamandash	43,405	2.72	0	0
Uluu Kyrgyzstan	23,899	1.50	0	New
Ar-Namys	12,807	0.80	0	–25
Meken Yntymygy	12,679	0.80	0	New
Congress of the Peoples of Kyrgyzstan	9,619	0.60	0	New
Aalam	6,398	0.40	0	New
Azattyk	5,355	0.34	0	New
Against all	12,428	0.78	–	–
Invalid/blank votes	32,410	–	–	–
Total	1,626,255	100	120	0
Registered voters/turnout	2,761,297	58.89	–	–
Source: CEC

Political pressure groups and leaders

• Council of Free Trade Unions
• Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights – Ramazan Dyryldayev
• National Unity Democratic Movement
• Union of Entrepreneurs
• Central Asian Free Market Institute^[28]

Judicial branch

Although the constitution provides for an independent judiciary, Kyrgyzstan's court system is widely seen as under the influence of the prosecutor's office. Low salaries make the bribery of judges commonplace. Most cases originate in local courts; they then can move via the appeals process to municipal or regional courts, with the Supreme Court the final court of appeals. Property and family law disputes and low-level criminal cases are heard by traditional elders' courts, which are loosely supervised by the prosecutor's office. Economic disputes and military cases are heard in specialized courts. The constitutional amendments of 2003 expanded the scope of the Supreme Court in civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings. Many protections of Western jurisprudence are not present in Kyrgyzstan's system, which retains many features of the Soviet system. The right to counsel and the presumption of innocence of the accused are guaranteed by law but often not practiced. There is no trial by jury. Reform legislation under consideration in 2006 would establish a jury system and bolster the independence of the judicial branch.^[29]

The Prosecutor General's Office of Kyrgyzstan oversees the enforcement of the Kyrgyz legal system and the activities of law enforcement agencies and the sentencing of criminals in concert with the judiciary.

Administrative divisions

Kyrgyzstan is divided into seven Regions (oblustar, singular – oblus) and two region-level cities* (shaar):

• Batken Region (Batken)
• Bishkek*
• Chüy Region (Bishkek)
• Issyk-Kul Region (Karakol)
• Jalal-Abad
  )
• Naryn Region (Naryn)
• Osh*
• Osh Region (Osh)
• Talas Region (Talas)

note: administrative center names in parentheses

International organization participation

• AsDB
• CIS
• EAPC
• EBRD
• ECO
• FAO
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICCt (signatory)
• ICRM
• IDA
• IDB
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• INOGATE
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• ISO (correspondent)
• ITU
• NAM (observer)
• OIC
• OPCW
• OSCE
• PCA
• PFP
• SCO
• UN
• UNAMSIL
• UNCTAD
  (UNECE)
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• UNMIK
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WToO
• WTO
• UNICEF

Notes

External links

• Erik Herron's Guide to Politics in East Central Europe and Eurasia Archived 2 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine
• Kyrgyz Report offers ongoing analysis, including an analysis of the clusters of political forces in the country and the roots of the country’s political problems
• Government of Kyrgyz Republic Archived 15 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine