People vote during the presidential elections in Arashan village, Kyrgyzstan, Jan 9, 2021. (VLADIMIR VORONIN / AP)
An early presidential election and a referendum on the form of government were held in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday, and former interim president Sadyr Japarov has claimed victory in the elections to lead the country.
Japarov won almost 80 percent of the vote in the Central Asian nation which is closely allied with Russia, according to preliminary results cited by the Central Election Commission, meaning there will be no runoff.
Japarov said in Bishkek on Sunday he intends to complete economic and political reforms in Kyrgyzstan before June 1
"According to preliminary estimates of more than 90 percent of automatically reading ballot boxes, Sadyr Japarov has gained about 80 percent of the vote," Central Election Commission Chairwoman Nurzhan Shildabekova said, noting that turnout was more than 36 percent.
CEC data on Sunday showed his closest competitor, nationalist Adakhan Madumarov, trailing with less than 7 percent.
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Japarov said in Bishkek on Sunday he intends to complete economic and political reforms in Kyrgyzstan before June 1.
"In particular, changes are expected to take place in the government structure and the makeup of the national parliament," he stressed.
A referendum to choose the form of government was also held on Sunday. Voters were offered either the presidential or parliamentary system of government. They also had a choice to vote for none.
Preliminary data showed more than 81 percent voted for a presidential form of government, about 11 percent for a parliamentary system, and roughly 4.4 percent against both forms.
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Deputy Interior Minister of Kyrgyzstan Oktyabr Urmambetov said on Monday law enforcement agencies did not record any major violations of order during the voting.
Japarov, 52, was serving jail time on hostage-taking charges when protests in October saw him freed by supporters.
Then-president Sooronbai Jeenbekov resigned at the insistence of Japarov's supporters and later agreed to sign off on Japarov's election as prime minister by parliament.
With a threadbare economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic, Kyrgyzstan's next leader is likely to be even more dependent on Russia, a destination for hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz migrants, news agency Agence France-Presse reported.
