Revolution in Kyrgystan

A government overthrown by a group of radical protesters isn't just fantasy. In Kyrgyzstan, President Askar Akayev has fled from the capital, Bishkek, to Russia, and new elections have been set for June 26. After parliamentary elections, protesters began speaking out against the results Feb. 27, and the action peaked March 13 after the run-off elections. Their actions have turned into a revolution and have been compared to the Georgian and Ukrainian government coups.\nThough originally peaceful, protests escalated in the hope of forcing Akayev to resign from office. Akayev has been accused of conducting an unfair election by prohibiting the opposition from fair campaigning. Akayev's critics also accuse him of implementing legislation to amend the constitution to allow him to run for a third term, though he denies it. In addition, Akayev put both his son and daughter into office.\nAlthough Akayev has escaped to Russia, he contends that he has not resigned. In Akayev's speech to Kyrgyzstan Friday, he said, "Rumors that I have resigned from the post of president are untrue and ill-intentioned."\nRemoving a seemingly corrupt leader is a common problem in the former Soviet countries, evident in that most rulers have been in power since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, remnants of the communist old guard. \nAt the peak of the protests in Bishkek Thursday, residents threw rocks among looting and gunfire. Reports conflict, stating that one man was killed and 129 injured, while another says three men were killed. Following the overthrow of the government in the city of Osh March 22, Akayev pledged to not call a state of emergency out of fear for his own life. But the contested president soon left for Russia after protesters paraded through the capitol office, throwing computers and seizing the state television station.\nA leading political force, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, has taken temporary office and wishes to run for president as an anti-Akayev candidate. Bakiyev has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has called him to ask how Russia could help the people of Kyrgyzstan. He has also stated that U.S. Ambassador Stephen Young was the first to congratulate him.\nOther nations, expressing their support, see this revolution as a result of the inspiration of neighboring countries Georgia and Ukraine. The breakup of the Soviet Union left many of its nations in poor conditions. Kyrgyzstan's neighboring countries fear these revolutions will spark a domino effect, leading to future revolutions to overthrow dictators in places such as Uzbekistan. Others are more concerned about the violence of the Kyrgyzstan revolution (now being called the "tulip" or "yellow" revolution), which stands in contrast with the more peaceful Georgian and Ukrainian demonstrations.\nPro-Akayev forces are rumored to be heading for Bishkek, and more death is likely. The United States and Russia both have military bases not far from Bishkek, and right now, both forces are waiting to see how this recent series of events will turn out.\nThe reaction of the Kyrgyz people is mixed but hopeful. However, given the recent events throughout the Middle East and Eastern Europe, it seems likely that the protesters, so intent on making their voices heard, will be able to affect change in their country.