Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Allies of President Sadyr Japarov have secured a commanding victory in the early parliamentary elections held in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday. This outcome is expected to solidify Japarov’s control over the political landscape of the nation, once regarded as the most democratically open in Central Asia.
According to preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission, independent candidates loyal to Japarov have won a significant majority of seats. This victory follows years of marginalization of political parties and increasing restrictions on opposition voices since Japarov assumed power following the 2020 protests.
The landslide win paves the way for Japarov, a populist leader known for his nationalist rhetoric, to confidently pursue a second presidential term in the 2027 elections. During the voting process in Bishkek, Japarov asserted that the elections would be free of violations, contrasting them with previous elections which he alleged were marred by fraud.
Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Kyrgyzstan has stood out in its region for its vibrant political scene and relatively free media. However, in recent years, the country has undergone a significant shift. Japarov’s administration has tightened its grip on the opposition, with prominent politicians arrested on charges of plotting unrest, and stringent restrictions imposed on the media.
These election results mark a pivotal moment, solidifying Kyrgyzstan’s transition from a struggling democratic experiment to a political reality where power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader and his allies.This outcome raises concerns about the future of democratic values and political pluralism in the country.
