Kyrgyz Ombudsman asks politicians to swear on Koran

Just to discuss the hypocrisy of interpretation of the concept of human rights in Kyrgyzstan. I was just watching Tursunbai Bakir uulu (who was Kyrgyz ombudsman for five years) on an ‘analytical’ program. He was talking about how flawed the elections wear and saying that the people in power in Kyrgyzstan do not fear God and do not prepare for their second life after death. At one point of the interview he took out a tiny Koran out of his pocket and said that he always carries one with him. During his speech he has not mentioned human rights a single time, yet religon was indeed the main topic of conversation.  According to Bakir uulu,  Kyrgyz people need to have an ideology which will be rooted in religion to replace the old communism ideology and not to have ‘vacuum’ in their heads.  At some point he also said that he prays five times a day but does not even make his staff to do so in response to concern about his religiosity being an issue.

I can’t wait for the new ombudsman elections and actually need to ask around about the possibility of taking part in the elections process.

Another hope crashed: Central Election Commission deregisters Edil Baisalov

Kyrgyzstan elections look very much like a theater play or soap opera with every day bringing a new scandal and illogical (well, logical to the central election commision) actions. Today Edil Baisalov was deregistered by Central Election Commision due to his doubts of the process of printing and protection of election ballots.   

The whole process of ‘punishment’ for speaking out and doubting reminds of the patriarchical families very common in Kyrgyzstan where doubting and challenging the authority is severely punished.  The punishment usually includes cutting the child off from financial support and social networks.

 I really hoped that Baisalov would make it to Parliament because he has very liberal views and approaches.  I am sure he’d promote gender equality.

Russian woman in Top 5 of Social Democratic Party

Kyrgyz Social Democratic party held the party congress on Saturday and put together a party list. Bakyt Beshimov, Vice President on Academic Affairs of American University-Central Asia (my Alma Mater), joined this party along with Edil Baisalov, a long-standing activist with liberal views whom I respect a lot, I was hoping that there would be more women in top five. Yet, well, let’s see how things are with the other 95 names. Edil is running the 13th. I am sure that if he makes it to Parliament, there will be some gender sensitivity there. 

I am wondering today whether the token Russian women preferrably under 35 would be in every single party lists, therefore, getting the parties to fulfill the quota criteria.

More women joining Kyrgyz political parties

Just two signs from the Friday newspapers: there were more photos of women than usual in Vecherniy Bishkek (evening Bishkek) and MSN newspaper mentioned ‘Ata Meken’ party congress with two female names in the beginning of the article. 

The women joining this opposition party are both coming from strong NGOs. Namely Educational Center Interbilim which serves as an umbrella organization for NGOS and Legal Clinic ‘Adilet’ which provides quality legal services to different NGOs and disadvantaged groups. An advertisement with Zamira Akbagysheva, leader of Congress of Women of the Kyrgyz Republic, was published in Friday issue of Vecherniy Bishkek.