The main Kyrgyz opposition figure, Feliks Kulov, has failed to collect
enough votes to get a seat in parliament at the Sunday poll and will have
to stand in the second round, the head of the Central Electoral Commission,
Sulayman Imanbayev told a news conference on 21st February. Former Bishkek
mayor Feliks Kulov is the leader of the Ar-Namys Party, which was barred
from running in the elections by party lists.

"So far, according to preliminary information on the election to the
Legislative Assembly, which interests you, in this [Kara-Bura] electoral
district, Kulov and [his opponent] Sultanov will have to stand in the
second round. Sultanov is a deputy of the Legislative Assembly. You know
well who is Kulov," Imanbayev said.

Asked to comment on the Ar-Namys Party's claims that there had been
violations during the voting in the electoral district where Kulov was
running, he said: "As regards incidents there, so far we do not have any
specific reports. If we receive any report we will definitely share the
information with you, if you are interested".

Imanbayev said that the second round of the elections would be held either
on 5th or 12th March.

Imanbayev also said that Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev's brother, Asankul
Akayev, had been elected in an electoral district in norther Chuy Region.
"That man is Asankul Akayevich Akayev, a candidate for parliament. I think
he is an agronomist by speciality, he is the director of the Kemin national
park. He is a deputy of the present Assembly of People's Representatives.
If you want further clarification, he is a brother of the Kyrgyz president,
Askar Akayevich [Akayev]," he said when a journalist had asked him to tell
who Asankul Akayev was.

The news conference was broadcast live by Kyrgyz TV.

Source: Kyrgyz Television first channel, Bishkek, in Russian 0900 gmt 21 Feb
00
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