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Protesters in Central Asian Kyrgyzstan apparently seized control of the government headquarters in the capital, Bishkek, after parliamentary elections. Some of them are also reported to have broken into the White House, which houses the office and parliament of President Sooronbay Dscheenbekov. Akipress news agency reported.
Furthermore, the imprisoned former president Almasbek Atambayev is said to have been released from a prison run by the National Security Committee by supporters. An activist told the AFP news agency that protesters critical of the government removed Atambayev from his cell “without violence and without the use of weapons.”
Atambayev, 64, was sentenced to about eleven years in prison for corruption in June. It is said that he helped a convicted criminal escape during his tenure.
Suspicion of electoral fraud sparked protests
Unrest in the former Soviet republic began on Monday when thousands took to the streets for alleged manipulation in the weekend’s parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan was seen as an island of democracy amid authoritarian states in Central Asia. However, more recently, a human rights activist died in a prison in July, probably because he did not receive medical attention despite a serious illness. In Sunday’s elections, there should have been manipulations like buying votes.
More than 100 injured after serious riots
During the protests, protesters had recently carried several people over fences to the parliament building, others set cars on fire. Security forces used water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades against the protesters. More than a hundred people were reportedly injured in the clashes.
Former President Atambayev led the impoverished country from 2011 to 2017. In 2019, his supporters fought street battles with security forces when they were arrested.
