(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – About a third of people in Kyrgyzstan think the presidential election will be marred by irregularities, according to a poll by Baltic Surveys and the International Republican Institute. 35 per cent of respondents think the ballot will not be fully free and fair.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – About a third of people in Kyrgyzstan think the presidential election will be marred by irregularities, according to a poll by Baltic Surveys and the International Republican Institute. 35 per cent of respondents think the ballot will not be fully free and fair.
Kyrgyzstan will hold a presidential election today. Incumbent Kurmanbek Bakiyev of the Ak Zhol party is seeking re-election. Bakiyev has been in office since March 2005.
Among others, Bakiyev will face former prime minister Almazbek Atambaev in the election. Atambaev is the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan and will run as the candidate of the United Opposition. A former close aide to Bakiyev, he has repeatedly accused the president of running the country while pursuing his own interests.
On Jul. 21, Atambaev accused the government of wanting "to rig the results" of the ballot, adding, "If they try to steal votes on the election day, anything may happen. I will be with those who come out to defend their votes. (…) It has come to the point when police and the GKNB (security services) are trying to foil my meetings with voters. Like rats are afraid of the light, this government is afraid of the truth."
Polling Data
In your opinion, the upcoming presidential election will be…?
|
Free and fair |
26% |
|
Somewhat free and fair |
28% |
|
Somewhat not free and fair |
18% |
|
Not free and fair |
17% |
|
No answer |
11% |
Source: Baltic Surveys / International Republican Institute
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,500 Kyrgyz adults, conducted from Apr. 22 to May 9, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
