Russia says obliged by security treaty to prevent total govt. breakdown in Kyrgyzstan

Russia says Moscow has been obliged by a security treaty to prevent a complete breakdown of government in Kyrgyzstan, where rival groups have claimed power in a post-election unrest.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a press briefing in Moscow on Thursday that Russia was "deeply concerned" about a "situation resembling a mess and chaos" in the Central Asian nation. 

He said Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov had held talks on Wednesday with the new acting security chief of Kyrgyzstan, Omurbek Suvanaliyev.  

The FSB supports the Kyrgyz security service in its efforts "to prevent the situation in the country from sliding into chaos," Peskov said.

The Kyrgyz national security committee, which Suvanaliyev now heads, has said security forces would not be used as a tool by any party, demanding that all political forces negotiate and restore the rule of law. 

Suvanaliyev recently oversaw a gathering of security bloc representatives who together called on political forces to "come to the negotiating table and return the country to lawfulness and social stability." 

Earlier, he told Russia's Interfax news agency that Kyrgyzstan was tightening border controls to ensure security. Border guards later clarified that they had been given a list of people barred from leaving the country.

Kyrgyz security forces and military leadership, in a joint statement, have also demanded that all political parties sit down for talks and restore the rule of law. They have said that security forces would not not allow themselves to be used as a tool by any party.

Kyrgyzstan's PM resigns after post-election unrest

Kyrgyzstan

President Jeenbekov says is open to impeachment 

Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, whose whereabouts are unknown following the unrest, on Thursday held his first talks with parliament to find a way out of the chaos that has engulfed the country since Sunday.

Jeenbekov even discussed the possibility of his own impeachment with parliament speaker Myktybek Abdyldayev, his office said in a statement.

The presidency's statement was the first indication that Jeenbekov had accepted the results of an emergency parliament session held on Tuesday, at which Abdyldayev was chosen as the new parliament speaker.

Jeenbekov's office said he discussed a range of issues including government appointments with Abdyldayev.

Despite discussing his own impeachment, there was no immediate indication that Jeenbekov would choose this option. 

"The President noted that he now faces an important task -- to return the situation to the legal realm. He noted that he is ready to discuss all issues connected to the current situation," the statement said. "Jeenbekov once more reiterated that he is the legitimate president," it added.

In Kyrgyzstan, three opposition groups have each proposed their candidates for interim prime minister, a figure who would need to oversee a repeat vote in the coming months,

Kyrgyzstan's electoral body invalidated the results after thousands of protesters, instigated by vote fraud allegations, seized the parliamentary and presidential compound in the capital, Bishkek.

Kyrgyz body annuls parliamentary vote results after violent protests

Thousands of people protesting the results of Kyrgyzstan’s legislative elections reportedly seize the Central Asian country’s parliamentary and presidential compound in the capital, Bishkek.

The protesters on Tuesday set on fire several cars and damaged many buildings in the city before police moved to contain riots and control the situation.

The rioters also released from custody former president Almazbek Atambayev, who had been sentenced to a long prison term in August on corruption allegations after falling out with Jeenbekov. 

Kyrgyz ex-president's supporters clash with police

Supporters of Almazbek Atambayev threw rocks while police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowds.

The protests came in response to what many in the country regarded as rigged parliamentary polls, in which two establishment parties swept all the votes.

Most of the participants in the protests were reportedly members of the more than 10 political parties that did not win any seats in the legislature, demanding the annulment of the poll results and the holding of repeat elections.

More than 600 people have been reportedly injured during the protests. The Kyrgyz Health Ministry also confirmed the death of one person in Bishkek riots.

The opposition said it had established a coordination council and was discussing the line-up of a provisional government.

The unrest is the third outbreak of instability in former Soviet republics this year.

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