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Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 17:59
Kyrgyzstan's parliament names Zhaparov PM in repeat vote
By Reuters
Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 17:59 By Reuters

Kyrgyz acting prime minister Sadyr Zhaparov holds a press conference at the Ala-Archa state residence in Bishkek on Oct 10, 2020. (VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO / AFP)

BISHKEK - Kyrgyzstan’s parliament named nationalist politician Sadyr Zhaparov prime minister in a repeat vote on Wednesday, a step towards ending a political crisis in the Central Asian nation, which is closely allied with Russia.

A senior Kremlin official visited the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek in an apparent attempt to help local leaders end the impasse in the former Soviet republic, which is home to a Russian military air base and a large Canadian-owned gold mining operation.

Parliament had to vote on Zhaparov’s appointment for a second time after President Sooronbai Jeenbekov vetoed its previous decision on Oct 10 because of proxy voting by some legislators

Parliament had to vote on Zhaparov’s appointment for a second time after President Sooronbai Jeenbekov vetoed its previous decision on Oct 10 because of proxy voting by some legislators.

Zhaaparov’s supporters freed him from prison last week amid unrest after a parliamentary election in which official results showed a landslide victory for Jeenbekov’s allies. The result was annulled after protesters seized government buildings on Oct 6.

ALSO READ: Kyrgyz president renews state of emergency in Bishkek

Zhaparov had been serving a lengthy sentence on charges of taking a senior public servant hostage during a protest in 2013. Last week a court reviewed his case and annulled the verdict.

Zhaparov now needs Jeenbekov to ratify to parliamentary vote in order to become prime minister. Jeenbekov has said he is ready to resign once a new cabinet is legitimately appointed.

Kyrgyzstan’s 6.5 million people are currently under a state of emergency, but a few hundred Zhaparov supporters demonstrated in central Bishkek, defying a ban on rallies, to demand that the president resign and parliament dissolve itself.

READ MORE: Kyrgyz parliament approves new prime minister

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