By Felix Light

BISHKEK, Nov 29 (Reuters) – Kyrgyzstan votes in a snap parliamentary election on Sunday in which allies of President Sadyr Japarov are expected to win a resounding victory.

A populist and nationalist, Japarov has since 2020 established firm control of Kyrgyzstan, which was traditionally Central Asia’s most democratic country. Victory for his allies would set the stage for a presidential election due in 2027, when Japarov is expected to seek another term.

“The current leadership is very motivated to maintain tight control, to prevent any potential sources of destabilisation, which we have seen throughout these five years,” said Emil Juraev, a Kyrgyz political scientist.

CLAMPDOWN ON MEDIA AND OPPOSITION

After Kyrgyzstan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991,

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