Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek police clash with protesters demanding re-election to parliament

Subscribe to our channel! rupt.ly/subscribe

Police deployed tear gas to disperse protesters rallying against the results of the country's general election in Bishkek on Monday evening.

Footage captured by Ruptly shows riot police officers dispersing the protesters with what appears to be stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets. The riot police also cordoned off roads leading to Ala-Too square, where protesters had gathered this morning.

Earlier in the day, several hundred opposition supporters gathered at the Ala-Too square to voice their disagreement with the results of the vote. The protesters demanded to cancel the election results and to launch re-elections.

According to the Health Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, at least 16 people were injured during the clashes with police. "Several ambulance brigades were sent to the central square. If necessary, they are ready to provide qualified assistance," the Health Ministry said.

Earlier on Monday the Interior Ministry of Kyrgyzstan released a statement urging the protesters to go home: "We remind you that in case of health risk of citizens or any other destructive actions, the responsibility falls on organisers of the rally, particularly on leaders of a few parties and their active members," the statement said.

The President of Kyrgyzstan announced that he will hold a meeting with the representatives of 16 political parties which took part in the parliamentary elections on Tuesday.

Preliminary results show that only four parties in Sunday's parliamentary election crossed the 7 percent election threshold to gain entry to the 120-seat legislature.

The pro-government Birimdik gathered 24.5 percent of the vote, followed by Mekenim Kyrgyzstan at 23.88 percent, and Kyrgyzstan Party at 8.76 percent.

The only opposition party to get representation in the parliament was Butum Kyrgyzstan with 7.13 percent of the vote, according to the Central Election Committee.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) election-monitoring team said in its preliminary report that there were credible concerns over vote-buying and other irregularities in the democratic electoral process.

Video ID: 20201005-045

Video on Demand: https://ruptly.tv/videos/20201005-045
Contact: cd@ruptly.tv

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Ruptly
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ruptly

Видео Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek police clash with protesters demanding re-election to parliament канала Ruptly