Kyrgyzstan To Hold By-Elections

Former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva is running for the seat from the Tunduk district of northern Bishkek. One of her opponents is former Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev, who left office when protesting crowds drove former President Askar Akaev from office in late March.

The district's seat has been vacant since Deputy Jirgalbek Surabaldiev was killed in Bishkek on 10 June.

In the southern Aksy district, Azimbek Beknazarov is running to reclaim his seat in parliament. Beknazarov was one of the few opposition figures to win a seat in last February's parliamentary elections, but he gave up the seat to become acting prosecutor-general. He was dismissed from that post in September and must run again to regain his seat.