Kyrgyz parliamentary elections, 2005

The 2005 Kyrgyz parliamentary elections were held 27 February 2005 with run-offs held on 13 March 2005. Over 400 candidates ran for the new 75-member unicameral legislative assembly. According to media reports, only six seats were won by the opposition, although most candidates were officially independents. According to international observers, the elections fell short of international standards for democratic elections in a number of important areas. The belief that the election had been rigged by the government led to widespread protests, culminating in a revolution on 24 March in which President Askar Akayev was overthrown and left the country.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) sent 60 observers to monitor the runoffs. In its initial assessment the group said the second-round of voting showed "some technical improvements over the first round" but stressed that there remained "significant shortcomings." The OSCE had said the first round fell short of international standards in many areas.

By the time of the revolution only incomplete results of the elections had been announced by the Election Commission. The new authorities said that fresh elections would be held within three months.

After the overthrow of Akayev's government, interim President Kurmanbek Bakiev announced that new presidential and legislative elections would be held on June 26. Later, however, it was agreed not to hold legislative elections in 2005. The Parliament subsequently set the date for new presidential elections for July 10, 2005.

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