Eurasianet

Even in a political scene as personality-driven as Kyrgyzstan’s, the cult of Japarov, who is standing for president this weekend, is striking.

Activists worry the country is sleepwalking toward authoritarianism.

Changes to the constitution are widely perceived as another power grab by the man who recently seized all levers of government.

The document has been dubbed a "Khanstitution" for the powers it gives the president.

There are more than 60 candidates hoping to run, but almost none are serious contenders.

Japarov has tried to put investors at their ease, but his government is sending mixed messages.

The new speaker of parliament is an old and close ally to Japarov.

Acting President Japarov came to power on the crest of rallies, but will he know how to deal with them as leader?

Japarov has said he is waging a war to rid Kyrgyzstan of corruption.

The president-prime minister has pledged to hold elections soon.

Japarov declared himself acting president, a dramatic rise for a man sprung from prison last week.

The appearance of the self-defense units is the second time this year that civil society has been forced to hold the line. Where the state repeatedly fails to live up to its obligations, volunteers step in.

Severe economic and epidemiological challenges now lie ahead.

One of them, however, has been trying to be made prime minister.

Japarov is behaving as though he is already PM, although his position remains uncertain.

The rapid ascendancy of Japarov, who was sprung from prison in the wake of a violent bout of rioting this week, has hinged entirely on a strategy of intimidation executed by hordes of aggressive supporters bussed into the capital.

Japarov and his supporters have shown little compunction in using violence to try and achieve their ends, although the events in Bishkek today easily outstrip anything that has happened in this crisis to date.

Any political turmoil was bound to worsen Kyrgyzstan's eviscerated economy, but what has happened over the past week has been especially destructive.

The threat of serious violence hangs heavy over these small farces of impromptu constitutional procedure.

A prime minister has been nominated under highly unusual conditions.

Nobody seems certain about President Jeenbekov's whereabouts.

A tainted election was swiftly followed by a violent night and confusion about who rules Kyrgyzstan.

Police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse rock-wielding demonstrators. Injuries were reported on both sides.

The election did not feel very competitive in the president's hometown.