1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Kyrgyz Republic Set to Hold Snap Presidential Election and Constitutional Referendum after Parliamentary Elections Annulled Updated December 14, 2020 The Kyrgyz Republic (commonly known as Kyrgyzstan) faces political uphea
2、val following the annulment of disputed parliamentary elections that heavily favored pro-government parties. Opposition parties alleged widespread irregularities in the October 4, 2020, vote, including vote-buying and voter intimidation; these assertions were deemed credible by international electio
3、n observers. While no date has been set for new parliamentary elections, a snap presidential election and a controversial constitutional referendum, both scheduled for January 10, 2021, are raising concerns among some observers about democracy and rule of law in the country. As a parliamentary repub
4、lic that holds contested elections, Kyrgyzstan has long been considered the most democratic country in Central Asia, with a vibrant civil society and a higher degree of press freedom than found elsewhere in the region. Promoting a more inclusive and accountable democracy is a stated goal of U.S. for