
The human rights activist draws parallels with how past unrest and "people's revolutions," which were essentially government coups, arose in the republic. She believes that both the denunciation of agreements with the USA and the denunciation of agreements with Russia are political moves to escalate the situation in the republic.
- A focal point of tension is emerging, a reason for the two major powers to confront each other in a small republic, creating a conflict zone... This is further aided by the introduction of insurance. Yes, there is legislation in the Customs Union, but there is also a regulation for the phased entry of each republic, the timelines for preparing the regulatory framework on each issue. No one refuses to pay this money, but why should insurance be announced abruptly and on the eve of the spring escalation period in the country, making a sudden decision about insuring both drivers and vehicles and housing? Remember, in 2010, before the April events, a water tax was introduced and prices for other utilities increased? As someone who has experienced two government coups and seen how they unfolded from the inside, I am concerned about similar decisions! – Umetalieva worries.
It is worth noting that there is indeed some similarity to the situation before major public unrest that led to the events of 2005 and 2010. The "Tulip Revolution" of 2005 was partly provoked by parliamentary elections, where the opposition effectively received no seats in the parliament, and partly by civil discontent with the authorities' arbitrariness. After the 2015 parliamentary elections, conducted using biometric data and thus receiving the status of "the most honest, clean, and democratic," there is no less discontent. Citizens of the republic were outraged by the demand to spend budget millions for new parliamentarians on purchasing new leather chairs and new carpets even before the people's servants took their places at work. Moreover, some decisions made by elected representatives after the start of the sixth convocation, concerning their own election program, raise confusion: having settled into the coveted chair, they have practically forgotten about the people's mandates and their promises. Previous convocations of the parliament still imitated concern for the people for some time after the elections, not so openly demonstrating a rejection of their words.
In 2010, the people's outrage over the unchanged low standard of living was compounded by dissatisfaction with nepotism in the ruling elite, corruption, and the increased level of criminalization in all areas of life. Additionally, there was discontent with the sharp rise in prices for electricity, central heating, hot water, gas supply, and even mobile communication, as well as the authorities' inaction regarding these issues. The beginning of 2016 has much in common with a similar period six years ago.