Voters go to the polls this Sunday, October 4 to choose among candidates representing 16 parties who are competing for a place in Kyrgyzstan's 120-seat parliament, the Supreme Council. With President Sooronbay Jeenbekov's Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan not competing for seats, there is no clear frontrunner in the elections and most of the parties taking part are either new, or mergers of two or more older parties. Observers have also expressed concern about the notable number of candidates with ties to criminal groups, and the role money is playing in these elections.
Listen: Majlis Podcast-- Rebranding And Gangster Candidates. Its Kyrgyzstan's Parliamentary Elections
The election campaign took place amid concern over the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been marked by frequent clashes between supporters of rival political parties, as well as accusations of administrative resources being used to back government-supported political parties.
With a vast network of reporters on the ground, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service, Radio Azattyk has been providing audiences in Kyrgyzstan comprehensive multimedia coverage of the campaign in both the Kyrgyz and Russian languages.
RFE/RL journalists are available to provide expert analysis about the elections before, during and after the polls:
· VENERA DJUMATEVA, RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service Director (English, Russian and Kyrgyz)
DjumataevaV@rferl.org -- phone: +420.221.122.295
· KASYM RAKHMANKULOV, RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service Producer in Bishkek (English, Russian and Kyrgyz)
RakhmankulovK@rferl.org -- phone: +996.550.668.266
· BRUCE PANNIER, RFE/RL Sr. Central Asia Correspondent (English and Russian)
Pannierb@rferl.org -- phone: +420.221.123.606
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Find RFE/RL Experts at https://pressroom.rferl.org/experts
To schedule an interview with any of RFE/RL's experts, contact Muhammad Tahir (tahirm@rferl.org; +1.202.740.0603) in Washington DC.
Follow the latest developments on RFERL.org.