14 Tweets from Kyrgyzstan’s Colourful, Competitive and Concerning Presidential Vote · Global Voices
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Photo by Danil Usmanov for Kloop.kg. Used with permission.
Formerly communist Kyrgyzstan is the only country in its authoritarian neighbourhood to host genuinely competitive presidential elections.
To the north of the mountainous Central Asian republic lies Kazakhstan, which has been ruled by 77-year-old autocrat Nursultan Nazarbayev since before its independence in 1991.
To its south is Tajikistan, whose dictator of more than two decades Emomali Rakhmon came to power during a civil war and stayed put.
To its west is Uzbekistan, where the regime of late despot Islam Karimov was widely reported to boil dissidents.
To its east is China, which has been under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party since 1949.
If Kyrgyzstan's vote goes smoothly it should ensure the first peaceful transfer of power between two elected presidents in the republic of six million.
The country's first two presidents were overthrown in revolutions while the country's third “interim” president was not elected, but endorsed by referendum.
Here are 14 tweets to provide readers outside Kyrgyzstan with an idea of some of the themes that have characterized this vote.
Like in any election, but particularly because Kyrgyz votes are associated with political instability, some can't wait to see it end.
The main character in this video is pursued home by an agitator asking him to vote for a specific candidate: “Ugh! I'm so sick of this! When will the elections be over already!?”
The message at the end of the video reads: “Elections 2017. Hopefully they will end peacefully!!!”
#ш2017 тажаттыңар ? pic.twitter.com/mUaMxKq0Ry
— Kanatbek Sh. (@KanatbekS) October 14, 2017
The state monster, to be exact.
This voice-overed video depicts pro-government candidate Sooronbai Jeenbekov as the Incredible Hulk emboldened by the machinery of government (or what are referred to in the ex-Soviet region as “administrative resources”) with his main challenger oligarch Omurbek Babanov struggling to compete.
Their dialogue in the Kyrgyz language runs as follows:
Babanov: “I am Babanov and [neighbouring Kazakhstan's ruler] Nazarbaev is backing me. I will buy people with my money. I will buy you all too.”
Jeenbekov: “And I am Sooronbai. I am Sooronbai. I am Sooronobai.”
#шайлоо2017 pic.twitter.com/0xPbNkQhCS
— Батус (@S0u1_Keeper) September 24, 2017
It depends who you speak to.
Some say he is a ruthless and slimy former oil trader with connections to criminals.
Others argue he is the reform-oriented progressive politician capable of lifting Kyrgyzstan out of its long post-Soviet stagnation.
At any rate, he looks good with a dove.
Омурбек Бабанов: Пусть в Кыргызстане будет мир и процветание! https://t.co/EqW4TnZPta pic.twitter.com/BPgqVHarbP
— Vitalyi Iskakov (@VitalyiIskakov) October 10, 2017
Omurbek Babanov: Let there be peace and prosperity in Kyrgyzstan!
Продавец газетами зашел в СлимФит в очень хорошем настроении и всем девушкам предлагает газеты “Бабанова любишь?” #ш2017 pic.twitter.com/q5CHUZiJ3w
— Edil Baisalov (@baisalov) October 13, 2017
A newspaper salesman just came into [a cafe] in a very good mood, offering girls newspapers. “Do you love Babanov?”
Супер момент с семьей! @BabanovOmurbek #ш2017 pic.twitter.com/IFggwMQcLS
— Edil Baisalov (@baisalov) October 13, 2017
What a moment with his family!
#СуперАта #СуперПапа – это и мой отец :). И вот почему:https://t.co/fkZmeaPiVd pic.twitter.com/T9hq4tyefv
— Омурбек Бабанов (@BabanovOmurbek) June 16, 2017
#SuperPapa – is my father. Here is why: https://www.facebook.com/omurbek.babanov/posts/804123763102068
On top of being backed by the state machine, Jeenbekov has his supporters.
Here he is pictured in a hat to the left of Aida Kasymaliyeva, a popular former journalist and MP in the ruling Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan.
Jeenbekov's supporters say they like the fact he is unflashy and committed to hard work and stability.
#ш2017 pic.twitter.com/EZ4YmD5nAv
— Aida Kasymalieva (@a_kasymalieva) October 5, 2017
A bit like this. Here a media outlet claims citizens are being bussed to polls to vote for Jeenbekov.
More seriously, supporters of Babanov have been arrested in the run-up to the vote.
Nevertheless, the actual count is expected to be fairer than in previous presidential elections thanks to the use of biometric technology.
Фото. Подвоз избирателей в пользу Жээнбекова https://t.co/jH2844kzrI
#ш2017 #шайлоо2017 pic.twitter.com/BYsCee59Iz
— Kloop (@kloopnews) October 15, 2017
Bussing in favour of Jeenbekov.
Yes, on all sides. And exposing it is a dangerous business for journalists.
Another journalist assaulted in #Osh trying to film the distribution of cash to voters. #Kyrgyzstan https://t.co/OBy5gm9CvC
— DeirdreTynan (@DeirdreTynan) October 15, 2017
Of course, and thanks to them it could go to a second round.
In the tweet below a Kyrgyz netizen applauds the performances in a presidential debate of ex-Prime Minister Temir Sariyev and Taalatbek Masadykov, a former United Nations expert who received his Masters degree in the United Kingdom.
#ш2017 #Шайлоо2017 #дебаты2017 pic.twitter.com/rcjbBGMgEG
— ★♥Нияра Солнечная ♥★ (@NiyaraSweet) October 5, 2017
Sariyev and Masadykov – bravo!
Global Voices first covered Arstanbek Abdyldayev in 2011.
He famously announced the end of winter and called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a complex bio-robot”.
He has promised the world a new era under the leadership of the Kyrgyz people, and he is apparently writing a book.
He isn't expected to get much of the vote, though.
Бу кишини жайына койсоң дүйнөнү сактагысы бар #ш2017 pic.twitter.com/wdDfF4IbDP
— Bakyt Torogeldi (@b_torogeldiev) September 22, 2017
If we just let this person [be president], he will save the world!
Then there is Azimbek Beknazarov, who says he is not participating in the vote but is on the ballot anyway.
His nickname is “the bulldozer” due to his active participation in the 2005 and 2010 uprisings.
This was his pre-election campaign commercial which was shown on television before he dramatically withdrew his candidacy during one of the debates.
Kid: “Mum, dad, the bulldozer is coming, the bulldozer is on its way, the bulldozer is on its way!”
Old man: “Who did you say is coming? Beknazarov, the bulldozer of the 2005 revolution?”
Woman: “Beknazarov, the one who brought up the issue of Ungar Too [territory disputed by Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan]?
Kid: “Yes, yes, that very Beknazarov!”
Old man: “Oooh! That is very good. If there is anyone who can straighten out our society, it is him. Support him!”
С таким роликом Азимбек “Бульдозер” Бекназаров передавит на выборах всех конкурентов, не иначе #презедент2017 pic.twitter.com/HFxcdbVXks
— тем временем… (@a_imanaliev) October 6, 2017
With an ad campaign like this, Beknazarov will crush his opponents, no doubt!
Stirring, the pot, as usual. Almazbek Atambayev was limited by the constitution to a single, six year term in office following his own election in 2011.
Any hopes that the president would offer up a veneer of neutrality for the vote have been thoroughly dashed during the last few weeks, however.
He spoke again on election day, claiming representatives of the fabulously wealthy Babanov had offered him $20 million to endorse him, without offering proof.
With his speeches invariably inflammatory, one foreign correspondent suggested it would be better if he did not speak at all.
Given his recent eccentric remarks, this looks like an ideal Atambayev press conference #Kyrgyzstan pic.twitter.com/XeIQpSxaaE
— Peter Leonard (@Peter__Leonard) October 15, 2017
As mentioned, a second round is fairly likely, assuming the vote is sufficiently clean.
After that, who knows? But some have seen negative omens in the pre-election campaign of slight favourite Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
Обнаружена угроза! ☠️ pic.twitter.com/6SYFiC6HZ6
— Umet (@UmetKerim) October 11, 2017
An electronic banner calling on voters to vote for Jeenbekov malfunctions, leaving an on-screen message: “A threat has been detected”.