Kyrgyzstan: Opposition to Field One Presidential Candidate

A coalition of Kyrgyz opposition parties has agreed to field one candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.

The United People's Movement (UPM), which includes Ata Meken, the Social Democratic Party, Ak Shumkar, Jany Kyrgyzstan and Asaba, is currently preparing to stage mass demonstrations in Bishkek on March 27.

In an interview with the AKIpress news agency, UPM coordinator Azimbek Beknazarov said the unified opposition candidate would be announced following the protests. Separately, Omurbek Tekebayev, the leader of Ata Meken, cast doubt on whether or not incumbent Kurmanbek Bakiyev would seek a second term in office.

"In spite of their cheerful statements, Bakiyev will not be a candidate for a second term. So far he has only behaved as if he's going for a second term, otherwise the [governing] party [Ak Zhol] and its command structure would disintegrate," Tekebayev told the news agency March 23, without elaborating.

Observers say Ak Zhol has been shaken by fearful suspicions since the mysterious death of Bakiyev's former chief-of-staff, Medet Sadyrkulov, in an apparent car crash March 13. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].