This is the first presidential election in Kyrgyzstan after the last revolution took place in the republic, which moved Kurmanbek Bakiyev from his post. The political forces which came to power as a result of the revolution formed a coalition ‘transition government’ headed by Roza Otunbayeva. She did not participate in this election.
According to the results of processing 99.96% of the votes the election was won by a wide margin by Almazbek Atambayev, followed by the leader of the Butun Kyrgyzstan party (United Kyrgyzstan) Adahan Madumarov and former Security Council Secretary and former head of the Emergencies Ministry, the leader of the party “Ata Jurt” (Fatherland) Kamchibek Tashiyev.
The vote percentages are as follows: Almazbek Atambayev - 63.24; Adahan Madumarov - 14.76; Kamchibek Tashiyev - 14.33. The other candidates could collect no more than 1% of the votes.
The election was held at a fairly high turnout, according to official figures, more than 60 percent voted. There were violations in the voting process, as stated by the Kyrgyz authorities, but they were technical, and generally did not affect the results. OSCE observers gave the election a supportive assessment in general. They pointed to a wide range of candidates (16), and openness of the election campaign in the country.
Despite Atambayev’s obvious leadership in the presidential race, Madumarov and Tashiyev refused to acknowledge his victory, in fact, accusing authorities of fraud.
Demanding cancellation of official results, he threatened with civil unrest: “The authorities should change their mind and cancel the results. Otherwise, authorities will be severely punished and will feel the full force of the Kyrgyz people,” said Tashiyev.
A few actions demanding to review the election results have already been held in the south of the republic in Osh and Jalalabad. Supporters of Tashiyev promised that if the demands of protesters are not fulfilled, then it will be an open-ended meeting.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Mission of Observers positively evaluated the progress of the presidential election in Kyrgyzstan. According to the Chief of Mission, Deputy Secretary General, Konarovsky, “the election was held in accordance with the Constitution and the Election Code.” The Mission of Observers from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly also recorded no systemic violations of election laws during the vote.
Observers from Japan expressed hope that the losing candidates will direct all their energy to economic development of Kyrgyzstan. It was declared at the press conference by members of the House of Representatives of Japan. According to them, Japan intends to provide support “in addressing the challenges facing the Kyrgyz Republic.”
In turn, Almazbek Atambayev commenting on the preliminary results of voting said that he will act so that “in Kyrgyzstan there are no longer reasons for the revolution,” because people, in his opinion, “have got tired with them.”
He noted the importance of supporting by the population of positive changes in life, as well as of the ideology of unity proposed to people. “At the same time, people said a firm ‘no’ to attempts to push society into a state of instability and inter-regional conflict."
“The election will be the first step towards the country’s unity. I participated in this electoral marathon with one goal: to consolidate the people of Kyrgyzstan. I will strive to ensure that in a few years the problem of separating the people of Kyrgyzstan and the danger of split of the state are finally gone,” said the new president of Kyrgyzstan.
“I realize all the responsibility the society puts upon me. And I realize that people expect from the authorities real reforms aimed at improving their life. The necessary measures are indicated in my election platform I intend to consistently put into practice,” he said.
The new head of state emphasized repeatedly that he will pursue a policy that focuses on Russia, and even promised to withdraw the US base from the country in 2014. He also was the initiator of accession of Kyrgyzstan to the Customs Union. The first statements Atambayev made after the announcement of election results, allow us to conclude that he intends to embody his campaign promises into reality.
First of all, this concerns the closure of the US Air Force base located at Manas airport near Bishkek. “It raises bad associations, when landing on the airfield, and there are military aircrafts on it,” he told reporters on his first press conference after the announcement of preliminary results of the presidential election.
In his view, the presence of US military forces does not provide security of Kyrgyzstan. “I do not think that the military base in Manas ensures the safety of our country. I would not like that any of the countries opposing the United States one day causes a blow to us,” said Atambayev.
He underlined that Kyrgyzstan “will comply with its all international agreements,” but in 2014 after termination of the treaty with the USA on the deployment of the American Transit Center, it should be removed from Manas.
Washington could not ignore Atambayev’s statement. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged the Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan to study the information on the offenses allegedly committed during the presidential election in Kyrgyzstan. “I appeal to carefully study and openly respond to information on all offenses,” Mrs. Clinton’s statement says.
