Kyrgyzstan: from the cell to the Presidency of the Government

Kyrgyzstan, one of the Asian republics that broke away from the Soviet Union, is proud to be the only democracy in the area, and at the same time is surely ashamed of having become the nation with the record number of coups d'état of the times. In a general election, in which the turnout scarcely exceeded 39 percent, Sadyr Japarov was elected new head of government on Sunday with 80 percent of the vote. His three predecessors had to leave power owing to the popular and military revolts that were calling for his dismissal.

Japarov is known as a 52-year-old veteran terrorist involved with the mafia who had multiplied his popularity 14 months earlier when he headed the command that kidnapped a provincial governor he was in conflict with. He was sentenced to a prison term and in recent weeks took part in a new early election owing to the power vacuum; he jumped from his prison cell to the democratically elected prime minister's chair. His followers, many of whom were involved in illegal activities, welcomed his victory with a huge party in the streets of the capital Bishkek.

On the other hand, the opposition reported irregularities in both the voting and the ballot and have reacted with serious incidents that were suppressed by the police. The unrest has not stopped since then, and it is not known whether any casualties have resulted. The country, landlocked and one of the most mountainous and rugged in the world, is trying to open up communications, but they are still poor. Although some of the governments have disagreed with Moscow - Putin accused them of moving too fast in their democratising ideas -, it is Russia with which they have greater diplomatic and trade relations. The Russians retain a military base in the territory.  

The country is poor in natural resources and has limited possibilities for development. The reality is that both its geographical location and its orography do not attract the interest of foreign investors or international trade. Lately China has begun to cultivate relations more and even make small investments, probably to maintain strategic control of an emerging region on the world scene and because of its logical influence. Mountain tourism and wildlife, with unique animal species, are beginning to become an attraction for travellers seeking to discover new places.