European Forum

Atambaev wins Kyrgyz presidential elections in first round

Sunday’s (October 30th) presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan were won by Almazbek Atambaev, the former prime minister of the Central Asian country. He secured almost 63 percent of the votes in the first round of the elections with almost all ballots counted, thus negating the need for a second round of voting. The elections were mostly free and fair, but many names seemed to be missing from the voter rolls. Atambeav’s two main rivals, Adakhan Madumarov and Kamchybek Tashiev who both won around 15 percent of the votes, have not conceded defeat yet. The two are both nationalist politicians from the South. Voter turnout was over 60 percent.

Atambaev campaigned as a leader that might be able to unite the country again, after violent protests ousted former President Kurmanbek Bakiev last year. Mr Atambayev, 55, is a wealthy businessman from the north of Kyrgyzstan, who promised to bring prosperity and stability to the impoverished Central Asian nation. He had the best-funded campaign and enjoyed significant public exposure by serving as prime minister until last month.

Election observers noted that although the elections were largely free and fair, some irregularities did take place. Most notably, many names were missing from voter rolls, thus preventing people from voting. Furthermore, it was noted that many Kyrgyz live in Russia as guest workers and that polling stations outside Kyrgyzstan were few and far between, preventing many from taking part in the elections. Madumarov has announced he will probably fight the outcome of the elections in court, saying that "We have never seen such mayhem and disorder before."

Violence clashes between ethnic Uzbeks and ethnic Kyrgyz left over 400 dead in the south of the country earlier this year. Tensions are still high in the region and both Madumarov and Tashiev are seen as anti-Uzbek nationalists, whereas Atambaev is internationally accepted as a reformist candidate. Many in the southern provinces did not dare to tell journalists who they had voted for, citing fears that it might hamper them in their careers or that they would become targets for vengeance attacks. The election campaigns of all sixteen candidates steered clear of the south of the country.

Current interim President Roza Otunbayeva – whose son’s name was also missing from voter rolls – will step down from power on December the 31st, making her the first leader in Kyrgyzstan do to so voluntarily.

Sources: Al-Jazeera, BBC, BBC, BBC, BBC, Financial Times, RFE/RL, RFE/RL, Image.