Temirlan Sultanbekov. Photo: Akipress
The Territorial Election Commission (TEC) of Bishkek has decided to remove the «Social Democrats» party from the elections to the city kenesh (city or town council) of the Kyrgyzstan capital. The party is suspected of bribing voters, but its leaders categorically reject these accusations, notes 24.kg.
According to the Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Internal Affairs, on November 13, an audio recording of a conversation between the head of the «Social Democrats» headquarters Irina Karamushkina and candidate for deputy Daniyar Cholponbaev was distributed on social networks. According to law enforcement agencies, this conversation discussed the bribery of voters.
The investigative service of the Bishkek Main Internal Affairs Department initiated a criminal case under part 1 of article 196 («Bribery of voters») of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan. As part of the investigation, the leader of the Social Democrats, Temirlan Sultanbekov, and several party members were questioned.
On the evening of November 13, a search was conducted at the headquarters of the «Social Democrats» with the participation of special forces. Sultanbekov was taken for questioning to the Bishkek Main Internal Affairs Department, then detained and placed in a temporary detention facility. In addition, several other party members were detained, including Irina Karamushkina. To protest the actions of the authorities, Sultanbekov declared a hunger strike.
Party member Kadyrbek Atambaev stated that the decision to remove them from the election race is illegal, as it was made before the end of the investigation and without a court decision. The Social Democrats intend to file a complaint with the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums. Meanwhile, the CEC reported that they have not yet received the decision of the Bishkek TEC on canceling the party's registration.
At the same time, another party in Bishkek was caught attempting to bribe voters. The CEC received information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs about the initiation of a criminal case under part 1 of article 196 against the «Adilet» party. The Bishkek TEC has not yet made a decision on this case.
ℹ️ The situation around the «Social Democrats» develops as the November 17 elections of deputies to local keneshes are approaching. Scheduled by decree of the President of Kyrgyzstan on September 6, elections will be held in 33 city and 231 ayil (town) keneshes in total.
