BISHKEK, Nov. 30, 2025 — Allies of Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov swept nearly all seats in a snap parliamentary election on Sunday, preliminary results show, consolidating his increasingly tight control over the country’s political landscape.

According to the central electoral commission, the bulk of winning candidates were independents loyal to Japarov, effectively sidelining established political parties. The results clear the way for the populist nationalist leader to pursue a second six-year term in the 2027 presidential election.

Casting his ballot in the capital, Bishkek, Japarov said the vote was largely free of violations and contrasted it with past elections under his predecessors, which he claimed were marred by rigging. He pledged that his government would ensure the next presidential election remains transparent.

Crackdown on Dissent and Opposition

Since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Kyrgyzstan stood out in Central Asia for its lively political scene, regular protests, and comparatively free media. Mass demonstrations in 2005, 2010, and 2020 ousted leaders over alleged election rigging, while Kyrgyz media retained more freedom than regional peers.

Japarov, who rose to power amid the 2020 protests, has sought a radical break with this tradition, imposing sweeping restrictions on opposition and media. Opposition politicians have been detained over alleged unrest plots, and independent media faces tightening controls.

Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov, a Japarov ally, told Reuters that parliamentary democracy had failed in Kyrgyzstan, delivering neither economic growth nor stability. “We thought that we would adopt a Westminster-style parliamentary system and live like Western countries. But it did not work and it will not work,” he said.

Economic Growth Amid Challenges

Japarov has taken credit for a construction boom in Bishkek and rapid economic growth, though rising inflation and electricity shortages have strained living standards. Analysts attribute part of the growth to Kyrgyzstan’s role as a trade hub with ally Russia, which has faced Western sanctions over the Ukraine war. The country participates in a customs union with Moscow.

Western nations have sanctioned several Kyrgyz banks and cryptocurrency companies, citing involvement in facilitating sanctioned Russian trade.

With the parliamentary results, Japarov’s allies now dominate the legislature, giving him a freer hand to shape policy and consolidate power ahead of the next presidential vote.