Conflicts & War

Kyrgyz president steps down amid post-election unrest

Moscow, Oct 15 (efe-epa).- Kyrgyzstan’s president Sooronbay Jeenbekov offered his resignation Thursday after days of post-election unrest in the central Asian nation.

The embattled leader of the former Soviet republic said in a statement that the parliamentary approval of a new government on Wednesday had failed to quell tensions.

“The situation is close to bilateral conflict,” he said, according to the AKIpress news agency.

“For me, peace in Kyrgyzstan, the integrity of the country, the unity of our people and tranquility in society are above all. There is nothing dearer to me than the life of each of my compatriots.

“I’m not holding on to power. I do not want to remain in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a president who shed blood and shot at his own citizens. Therefore, I decided to resign.”

Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked mountainous nation of roughly six million people, was plunged into unrest following parliamentary elections on 4 October.

Snap presidential elections will be held within three months, according to the Kyrgyz constitution.

Until then the newly-elected parliamentary speaker Kanat Isaev will serve as interim president.

Jeenbekov had signaled his intention to resign if the violent protests in the capital Bishkek continued after parliament approved a new executive.

Only two opposition parties secured seats in the 4 October election, fueling accusations of electoral fraud.

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