Kyrgyzstan

Update: Almazbek Atambayev, first deputy prime minister, officially submitted his letter of resignation. He decided to resign “to provide equal opportunities, honesty and fairness at the upcoming parliamentary elections,” new agency 24.kh reported.

All but two or three members of the interim government will resign in the near future, according to Temir Sariev, deputy prime minister in charge of finance. This announcement confirmed expectations that many leading Kyrgyz figures who helped oust Kurmanbek Bakiyev in April will leave the government to lead their parties in the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 10.

Making the announcement on July 12, Sariev said that to have honest and transparent elections, all members of the interim government should resign. He also called for each political party to sign a Memorandum on Honest and Free Elections to ensure legitimacy, fair competition, and recognition of the elections results. 

Sariev himself will resign on July 14 to lead his party, Ak-Shumkar, in the upcoming elections.

Another member of the interim government, deputy prime minister Omurbek Tekebayev, has already submitted a letter of resignation to President Roza Otunbayeva.  Tekebayev is the founder and leader of the Ata Meken party. 

Earlier, first deputy prime minister Azimbek Bekhnazarov said that it would not be fitting if all the interim government members left to run in the elections. According to Bekhnazarov, the interim government will decide who should retain their position in order to continue the reforms. 

Bekhnazarov is also expected to participate in the upcoming elections as the Bek (OND) party candidate.