Parties loyal to president ahead in Kyrgyzstan vote

Voters in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday backed parties supporting the country's new president, according to preliminary results.

Sunday's parliamentary election came just over a year after a forceful change of government in the ex-Soviet Central Asian nation.

President Sadyr Zhaparov was elected in January following protests that ousted his predecessor.

He had expected that Sunday's ballot would further cement his grip on power.

With over 90% of precincts counted, three blocs supporting Zhaparov emerged as the top vote-getters.

Some opposition parties quickly challenged the results, accusing authorities of vote-rigging.

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous landlocked nation of 6.5 million people that borders China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

It is a member of Russia-dominated economic and security alliances, hosts a Russian airbase and depends on Moscow's financial support.

Zhaparov had been serving an 11 1/2 year sentence on charges of abducting a regional governor.

He was freed by stone-throwing supporters who challenged the results of the October 2020 parliamentary election.

Last year's unrest marked the third violent ouster of the country's leader in 15 years.

Like uprisings that toppled presidents in 2005 and 2010, the 2020 turmoil was driven by clan rivalries that shape the country's politics.

IMAGE: AP