Twin Kyrgyz votes will bring less, not more democracy

Significance

The changes will tilt the balance of power in the direction of more authoritarian rule, with Japarov in charge. Parliament and the Supreme Court have signally failed to perform their roles of scrutinising and halting a series of processes that are clearly out of control.

Impacts

• A functional system of checks and balances has collapsed as illegal actions and political intimidation become the norm.
• Kyrgyzstan joins Georgia and arguably Armenia as a failing democracy in an undemocratic region.
• Western, Russian and Chinese investors will watch warily as the new authorities send mixed signals on the mining sector.