Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Kubatbek Boronov and Speaker of the Parliament Dastan Dzhumabekov resigned on Tuesday amid protests in the country.
On the same day, the deputies of the Kyrgyz Parliament at an extraordinary meeting elected a new speaker of the parliament and acting prime minister of the country.
The new Prime Minister, Sadyr Zhaparov, was elected during an extraordinary meeting in a hotel after protesters seized the legislative building, the parliamentary press service said.
Zhaparov was released from prison earlier on Tuesday amid protests to annul the results of parliamentary elections. He was serving time on charges of taking a hostage during the 2013 riots.
Read more:
Kyrgyzstan vote result cancelled after clashes
Protesters are seen inside Kyrgyzstan's parliament building in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, October 5, 2020. /Reuters
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called on all Kyrgyz actors to engage in dialogue and agree on a way forward "within the constitutional framework."
In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope for a peaceful solution to the political crisis.
"We are hoping that things will resolve peacefully," Putin said in an interview with state television on Wednesday, adding that Russia hopes "normal democratic processes will resume ... as soon as possible."
Russian military authorities said they had beefed up security at their military base outside the capital.
The U.S. State Department spokesperson on Tuesday urged a peaceful solution and restraint in Kyrgyzstan as it acknowledged concerns about election conduct that have set off major protests.
"We ask that all sides refrain from violence and resolve the election dispute through peaceful means," a State Department spokesperson said.
Noting that the stability and sustainable development of Kyrgyzstan is an important factor in the security and prosperity of the entire Central Asian region, Uzbekistan also expressed serious concern over its neighboring country's political crisis and hoped for the earliest possible stabilization of the situation
Protesters try to break into the government headquarters during a rally against the result of a parliamentary election in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, October 5, 2020. /Reuters
What happened?
Parliamentary elections were held in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday with the participation of 16 political parties. Preliminary results showed that four parties crossed the seven percent threshold to enter the parliament.
Some parties which failed to meet the voting threshold organized nationwide protests on Monday demanding the election's annulment, claiming gross violations, with protesters seizing government buildings and freeing high-profile politicians from prison, including the former president, Almazbek Atambayev.
Read more: Former Kyrgyz president sentenced to 11 years in prison for release of crime boss
The law enforcement agents used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. As a result of clashes between the police and protesters, almost 700 people got hurt and one person died.
Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbai Jeenbekov votes at the parliamentary election in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, October 4, 2020. /Reuters
"Using the election results as a pretext, they violated public order," incumbent President Sooronbai Jeenbekov said earlier on Tuesday in his address to the nation, appealing to all citizens to remain calm.
According to the president's press secretary Tolgonai Stamalieva, Jeenbekov has held talks with all political forces.
"The head of state was at his workplace in the building of the Jogorku Kenesh (the parliament) until 2 a.m. (2000 GMT), conducting individual dialogues with all political forces. The president is counting on the prudence of the organizers of the protest action," said Stamalieva.
Kyrgyzstan's Central Electoral Commission later on Tuesday also said that it had "invalidated the election results" which saw parties close to President Jeenbekov dominate results amid accusations of mass vote-buying.
(With input from agencies)
(Cover: People protest during a rally against the results of a parliamentary vote in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on October 5, 2020. /Reuters)