Kyrgyzstan politics

The Interior Ministry justified the wiretaps as part of investigations into the October 2020 unrest.

Kyrgyzstan’s first president admitted to making mistakes regarding the mine.

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament will shrink and change after the next election, expected later this year, under new legislation and a new constitution.

With another former prime minister arrested, the Kumtor case grows. Meanwhile, some have been released and others kept in custody.

After 16 years, Askar Akayev returned to Kyrgyzstan in connection with the Kyrgyz state’s growing case against the Canadian mining company Centerra Gold.

Local elections provide a window into the state of Kyrgyz politics – and what might come next in the three decade-long game of political musical chairs.

The indifference of many and the votes of some have ushered in Kyrgyzstan’s next political phase: a return to strong presidentialism. 

The April 11 vote covers 420 village council elections and 28 town and city council elections, plus a controversial constitutional referendum.

The gender quota in local councils is no panacea, but it is an important step in creating the capacity to address the challenges women face in Kyrgyzstan.

The referendum, the second this year, is likely to be set for April 11.

On the back of its October 2020 upheaval and the ensuring political drama, Kyrgyzstan fell into the “not free” category with the rest of the region.