User:Willbern/Ryskeldi Satke

As it has been expected July 23rd presidential elections brought unprecedented level of negativity around the event in Kyrgyzstan.Main opponent of the president Bakiev,Almazbek Atambaev,called off campaign staff and observers from election districts around the country accusing Government of fraudulent activities conducted by local authorities and handpicked election commissions.According to Social Democratic Party (SDPK) reports there are 145 registered cases of fraud and violations across the country.Opposition observers have been closely watching election process since july 15th early voting.

Thus, SDPK's online press hub http://www.sdpk.kg/ru/ reports that some election districts commissions included "deceased" as actual voters as it happened in #319,#320 districts of Chui province and #1117 in Bishkek city.Similar violations observed around the Kyrgyzstan. Noteworthy,in some areas UOM (United Opposition Movement) activists noted use of large number of unsigned ballots which were marked for candidate Bakiev.Along with that local election commissions have been resisting opposition monitoring groups in final vote count.There are reports from Atambaev campaign headquarters that observers were not able to perform their duties because of such illegal practices. Officially assigned observers were being forced out of the counting rooms by law enforcement agents.

In Balykchi city of Issyk Kul province,western part of the Kyrgyzstan,approximately 1000 voters,opposition activists and members protested Government's illegal practices which turned into a violent scene provoked by local police department. Law enforcement agents opened fire in the air over protesters,arresting 20 to 30 activists including two SDPK parliamentarians Kadyrov and Asanakunov. Leader of the SDPK political faction,Bakyt Beshimov, demanded an explanation in an open letter to the General Prosecutor's Office. http://www.sdpk.kg/ru/Faction/ParliamentaryQueries/item_634

As tensions heated over fraudulent voting,Atambaev has made a statement indicating his pull off the race due to unprecedented level of hostility,harassment,intimidation and physical attacks against opposition campaigners calling for a boycott of the election results. In another violent episode,one of the Atambaev campaign activist's house in Bishkek city deliberately burned by unknown while his family was inside.

At press conference in Bishkek city,Atambaev said:"We refuse to participate in elections as we consider it illegitimate.If needed we'll protest today and tommorrow".He pointed at massive fraud cases recorded by observers.

Interestingly,one of the international observers from Russia,Vasili Volkov stated in an interview to news agency Interfax:"Even if there is a number of reported violations they are not significant to challenge election results." According to Volkov,kyrgyz presidential race described as open and ideal for observers.

In the meantime,by opposition sources count on SDPK press hub,number of violations is doubled from july 22nd to July 23rd (72 to 145)

Prominent and outspoken member of UOM,Topchubek Turgunaliev in an interview to RFERL (Radio Free Europe) kyrgyz branch "Azattyk" called this election most scandalous and fraudulent in the history of Kyrgyz Republic.Supporters and voters gathered in front of the Atambaev headquarters in Bishkek city,where main political opponents of president Bakiev demanded an annulment of the elections results.The UOM has decided to collect and show the massive fraud evidence to the International Organizations and Human Rights Watchdog Groups after which protests will continue. Topchubek Turgunaliev predicts civil unrest in the Kyrgyzstan.Atambaev campaign in joint statement with Nazaraliev, expressed concerns over unstable political situation due to illegal actions of Bakiev Government.