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Kyrgyzstan Reviews Foreign Influences
- Adults in a former Soviet Republic are worried about the effect of a neighbouring nation, according to a poll by the Kyrgyz Center for Public Opinion Surveys El-Pikir and the Eurasian Studies Institute. 48 per cent of respondents in Kyrgyzstan believe the influence of China should be limited.
The United States is next on the list with 43 per cent. 31 per cent of respondents believe the influence of Kazakhstan should be limited, while 27 per cent feel the same way about Russia.
In 1990, an amendment to the Soviet constitution allowed for the involvement of non-Communist parties in Kyrgyzstan's political arena. The Kyrgyz Communist Party opposed the changes and imposed a state of emergency after ethnic clashes ensued. The legislature eventually picked Askar Akayev—one of the ruling party's reformists—as president.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan achieved its independence in 1991. Akayev won an election unopposed and remained as head of state. In 1993, the country drafted its first post-Soviet constitution, which established legislative elections. In 1995, Akayev was re-elected as president, with more than 70 per cent of all cast ballots.
This year, anti-government demonstrations following allegations of fraud in the March legislative ballot led to Akayev's ouster. In July, Kurmanbek Bakiyev was elected president with 88.65 per cent of the vote.
Polling Data
Respondents who believe the influence of the following countries should be limited:
Russia | 27% |
Kazakhstan | 31% |
United States | 43% |
China | 48% |
Source: Kyrgyz Center for Public Opinion Surveys El-Pikir / Eurasian Studies Institute
Methodology: Interviews with 1,200 Kyrgyz adults, conducted in November 2005. No margin of error was provided.