Kyrgyzstan opens nine criminal cases over voter fraud in snap elections

Kyrgyz authorities have already launched nine criminal cases relating to instances of voter fraud in the snap parliamentary elections taking place on November 30.

A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry announced that a total of 256 instances of voting violations have been reported to the body so far, Caliber.Az reports, referring to Kyrgyz media outlets.

According to ministry representative Sultan Makilov, 59 of those were registered even before the start of the election campaign to the country's Jogorku Kenesh (Kyrgyz unicameral Supreme Council).

He stated that each case where the illegal buying of votes is suspected is being investigated and that money, documents, and other physical evidence have been seized. Twelve people are being brought to criminal liability.

The interior ministry has deployed 14,000 officers to ensure public order throughout the country on election day.

The vote is being held a year earlier than scheduled, a move that officials have justified by arguing that the parliamentary elections would otherwise fall too close to the 2027 presidential elections.

There have also been sweeping changes to Kyrgyzstan’s electoral system, with 30 constituencies electing three lawmakers each. According to the Central Election Commission, 467 candidates are vying for the 90 seats in Kyrgyzstan’s one-chamber parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh. There’s also a gender quota system that requires at least one female lawmaker from each district.

By Nazrin Sadigova