Thousands have gathered to protest the results of a recent parliamentary election marred by allegations of vote-buying. Police moved to break up demonstrations using water cannons, stun grenades and tear gas.
Image: Vladimir Pirogov/Reuters
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Protesters demonstrating against the results of parliamentary election have stormed a building that houses the country's parliament and presidential offices, leaving one person dead and at least 590 wounded following clashes with police, the government said.
Radio Free Europe tweeted pictures of protesters inside President Sooronbai Jeenbekov's office, located in a building known as the White House in the capital, Bishkek.
The photos, posted late Monday, showed demonstrators appearing to pose at the president's desk and in other areas of the office.
The protesters were demonstrating against results of Sunday's parliamentary election, where a majority of the votes went to parties tied to ruling elites.
At least 4,000 protesters gathered at Bishkek's central square earlier in the day to denounce the election as fraudulent. Police moved to break up the rally in the evening, using water cannons, stun grenades and tear gas to force the protesters to retreat.
Opposition protests rock Kyrgyzstan following parliamentary vote
Kyrgyz police met opposition protesters with a violent crackdown on Monday, as demonstrators stormed government buildings calling for an annulment of Sunday's parliamentary election results.
Image: Vladimir Pirogov/Reuters
Waving for democracy
A man holds a Kyrgyz flag during a rally against the parliamentary election results, in the capital, Bishkek. Mass protests in the capital and other cities broke out after authorities announced early results of Sunday's poll. Opposition protesters say the vote, dominated by parties close to President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, was rigged.
Protesters stormed the government headquarters in Bishkek on Monday evening following the election. Police used tear gas, water cannons and flash-bang grenades to disperse protesters, resulting in at least 590 injuries and one death.
Image: Vladimir Pirogov/Reuters
Protesters in the president's White House
A man stands in a room at the White House building, which houses the country's presidential administration and parliament. Early on Tuesday, following the protests, the Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan declared the results of the weekend's election invalid.
Image: Abylai Saralayev/TASS/dpa/picture-alliance
Asking for change
Opposition supporters rally and wave the Kyrgyz flag outside of the Government Building in Bishkek. Zhanar Akayev of the Ata Meken opposition party was quoted as saying that a "new prime minister and the people's government need to be appointed."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Itar-Tass
Raising a fist
A demonstrator wearing the national flag raises his first during protests in Bishkek. Supporters of a dozen opposition parties took to the streets to demand the election results be annulled.
Image: Vladimir Pirogov/Reuters
Handling the ruckus
Firetrucks set out for the government headquarters on Tuesday to start clearing up the debris. The Central Asian nation has a history of political volatility; two of its presidents have been forced out amid public protests following elections in the past 15 years.
Image: Vladimir Pirogov/Reuters
Rubbish ablaze
Protesters set fire to a container in front of the government headquarters in Bishkek. President Sooronbai Jeenbekov accused "certain political forces" of trying to "illegally seize power" in the country, and urged people to get off the streets.
Hours earlier, around 120 people were hospitalized with injuries after clashes broke out between police and protesters.
Protesters demanded that the vote results be canceled, and the Central Election Commission said early Tuesday it would consider their request, local news website 24.kg reported.
While protesters gathered in several provincial centers, many of Jeenbekov's supporters gathered in the southern city of Osh, where his brother called for unity and order.
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Despite the clashes, Jeenbekov's office issued a statement saying that he was "in control of the situation and expresses confidence that all political forces will put the interests of the country above their own."
Former president freed
Demonstrators also reportedly freed former President Almazbek Atambayev from a jail cell in the country's national security committee building. An eyewitness told news agency Agence France-Presse that the demonstrators were able to free Atambayev "without force or use of any weapons."
The eyewitness, identified as activist Adil Turdukuov, said that national security officials did not attempt to prevent demonstrators from releasing the ex-Kyrgyz leader.
Atambayev had been jailed on corruption charges after falling out with Jeenbekov. Activists also released imprisoned politician Sadyr Japarov, Radio Free Europe reported
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Allegations of vote misconduct
"We all have witnessed a true lawlessness during the election campaign and the election day yesterday ... Pressure on the voters, intimidation of the voters, bribing," said Klara Sooronkulova, leader of the Reforma opposition party.
As preliminary results were revealed on Sunday, it became clear that only five of 16 parties featured on the ballot had won seats in the country's 120-seat parliament. Over 26% of the votes went to the pro-government Birimdik party, while nearly 24% were received by the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party, which has links to a former top customs official. Both parties favor closer ties with Russia.
"We have talked with all opposition parties and created an opposition coalition," said Zhanar Akayev, from the Ata Meken opposition party. "We also demand that the Central Election Commission hold new elections ... within a month."
Russian news agency RIA quoted Jeenbekov's spokeswoman as saying he also did not rule out annulling the results of the contested election. He also said he would meet on Tuesday with the leaders of all parties that had taken part in the election.
Kyrgyzstan has a history of popular uprisings and political turmoil, with two presidents ousted in revolutions in 2005 and 2010. After a decade of relative stability, people have raised concerns over rampant corruption and domination by certain powerful clans.
Kyrgyzstan: Practicing democracy in summer camp
How can you detect efforts to manipulate opinions? How do you organize free elections? Young people at a summer camp in Kyrgyzstan worked on these complex issues by learning through play.
Group picture at the lake
More than 70 young people from all regions of Kyrgyzstan travelled to Issyk-Kul Lake for the Media Democracy Camp 2019. DW Akademie, the Kyrgyz Media Support Center Foundation, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the USAID Mission in Kyrgyzstan organized the camp together.
Image: MSCF / Rufat Ergeshov
Learning through play
The aim of the summer camp was to teach young people critical thinking and to show them the importance of robust civic mindedness.
Building something big together
This was not a break; it was actually an exercise in focused learning. Many learning through play sessions were held in an open-air setting.
A special journey
Some of the students saw Lake Issyk-Kul for the first time in their lives.
What role do media play in democracy?
The young people took part in intensive media training, which included practice in reporting. The students had the opportunity to produce their own videos in the multimedia studio of the Media Democracy Camp.
Media literacy is important for responsible citizens
Myrzash Shabdanbekova, one of the trainers, talked about awareness when processing media content. Media and information literacy (MIL) was a key part of the camp's program.
What kind of media user am I?
A typical task was to describe one’s own media consumption. DW Akademie has been carrying out projects to foster media and information literacy (MIL) among young people in Kyrgyzstan for years. Together with the Kyrgyz Media Support Center, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education and Science, and the Academy for Education, they have helped integrate MIL in the school curriculum of selected schools.
Cue for media literacy
One of the unique activities at Media Democracy Camp for the students was finding a creative way of presenting what they had learned. Their response was to put on a play about MIL.
Presenting to the group
Every evening, the young participants summarized the most important and exciting happenings of the day on stage.
This way to the ballot box
Another important part of the program was the election of the camp president. The young people prepared for this in training sessions and also did research on various electoral systems.
A simulated election
The young people tried out new roles on election day – from election observer to presidential candidate.
Becoming active citizens
At the Media Democracy Camp, the young participants developed their own ideas and projects to tackle current problems in their regions, e.g., a concept for a green city or a citizen initiative for rural areas.
Closing ceremony
The young people celebrated togehter on the last day of the Media Demoracy Camp. They will be able to stay in touch through an alumni network that connects young people across the country.
