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Will Kyrgyzstan Be Swept by Protests Again?

Will Kyrgyzstan be swept by protests again?
Kyrgyz citizens and the republic's law enforcement agencies are preparing for another round of public protests and unrest, which may lead to possible riots. The opposition has reported that residents of the regions and the southern capital are ready to hold protests against mandatory housing insurance, rising electricity prices, and insurance premiums. Opponents of the current government will also participate in these events.

A number of experts have stated that public outrage is inevitable. There are too many dissatisfied people across the republic with the government's actions. The first point of dissatisfaction, as in previous years of upheaval – in 2005 and 2010 – is the rising cost of utilities and the lack of a decent standard of living in the regions. Kyrgyz citizens were also significantly displeased with the forced introduction of biometric data, which violates human rights for the sake of parliamentary elections, which have become one of the most scandalous and expensive for candidates in the history of the republic, yet still received the status of being "the most honest, clean, and democratic." Citizens were outraged by the demand to spend budget millions on new leather chairs and carpets for new parliamentarians even before they took their seats. Moreover, some decisions made by the elected representatives after the start of the sixth convocation, concerning their own election program, caused confusion: having settled into their coveted seats, they almost forgot about the people's mandates and their promises. Previous convocations of the Jogorku Kenesh continued to simulate concern for the people for some time after the elections, not so openly abandoning their words.

The last straw was the "innovations" that came into effect in February. Kyrgyz citizens were particularly displeased with the introduction of mandatory auto insurance, which was postponed only due to mass protests by car owners - it was clearly influenced by the lobbying of insurance company owners. Additionally, the introduction of mandatory housing insurance, where the state refuses to compensate homeowners for damage in the event of a natural disaster, emergency, or other calamities if they do not have insurance, has caused further discontent. In the future, noncompliance may even result in administrative penalties. The first to gather for protests were the residents of Talas - on February 22, in the center of the Talas region, residents held a peaceful protest, and local authorities listened to their demands, but no steps were taken towards resolving them. Now it is the turn of residents from other regions, who are only remembered during election periods.

- Kyrgyz citizens are unhappy with mandatory housing insurance and rising electricity tariffs. Residents demand that electricity costs return to the previous rate of 70 tyiyn per 1 kWh. They also demand that the development of the Jeryuy deposit not begin until the issue with Kumtor is resolved. At the rallies, demands will be voiced for a reduction in insurance premiums and the resolution of border issues, - said one of the leaders of the National Opposition Movement, Kubanychbek Kadyrbekov, to journalists.

According to him, the desire to hold protests came from the villagers themselves, who invited representatives of the NOD to join, which they will do. The wave of rallies and marches will begin on March 14. Then, indefinite protests will start in the Talas, Jalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul, and Naryn regions. Several other opposition groups may join the NOD and the people; former mayor of Osh Melis Myrzakmatov has already expressed his support. In the southern capital, the protest will start on March 24 - on the day of the first "people's revolution" in 2005. Its initiators are the "El Unu" movement ("Voice of the People," editor's note), whose leader, Azimbek Beknazarov, states that a kurultai will also take place in the city during this time, to which representatives of the authorities and other opposition movements have been invited. They will discuss the socio-economic situation and the political course of the country and will develop a resolution and an appeal to the government.
16-03-2016, 10:24
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