Protests broke out January 15 in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh after long-time mayor Melis Myrzakmatov was defeated in indirect elections. City lawmakers voted 25-19 to elect Aitmamat Kadyrbaev, the former deputy governor of the Osh region and an ally of Kyrgyz Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev. (RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, Ernist Nurmatov)
In Kyrgyzstan, Protests As Osh Gets New Mayor
![As many as 10,000 demonstrators gathered outside City Hall, throwing rocks and attempting to storm the building to protest the results. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/d0f6994c-a8bb-421c-b20b-1727109fb9de_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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As many as 10,000 demonstrators gathered outside City Hall, throwing rocks and attempting to storm the building to protest the results.
![Voting under way in City Hall. Before the election, the majority coalition backing Kadyrbaev held a whisker-thin advantage of 23 to 22 seats. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/9cea33b3-07ab-4cbe-b6e2-d6fd3695ab16_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Voting under way in City Hall. Before the election, the majority coalition backing Kadyrbaev held a whisker-thin advantage of 23 to 22 seats.
![The vote count revealed that an additional two lawmakers had thrown their vote behind Kadyrbaev, leaving Myrzakmatov with 19 votes. (One ballot was declared "ruined.")](https://gdb.rferl.org/45bf14fa-a701-4eef-8b4e-fd83529119b8_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The vote count revealed that an additional two lawmakers had thrown their vote behind Kadyrbaev, leaving Myrzakmatov with 19 votes. (One ballot was declared "ruined.")
![Heavily armed police wait inside City Hall. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/1c17f779-7e07-4b5f-b04d-7a34efcb51cc_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Heavily armed police wait inside City Hall.
![Riot police form a blockade outside City Hall in attempt to discourage protesters from entering.](https://gdb.rferl.org/0c813da8-48bd-4127-bf3a-27d367e509cd_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Riot police form a blockade outside City Hall in attempt to discourage protesters from entering.
![A numbers of protesters stood and chanted. Some threw stones, and at least one burned a portrait of Kyrgyzstan's president, Almazbek Atambaev. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/284a6d49-552b-4abe-8eed-dc870c144483_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A numbers of protesters stood and chanted. Some threw stones, and at least one burned a portrait of Kyrgyzstan's president, Almazbek Atambaev.
![Several dozen protesters arrived on horseback to voice support for Myrzakmatov. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/b22eaa56-aa7c-4417-95d8-d561c35cb404_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Several dozen protesters arrived on horseback to voice support for Myrzakmatov.
![Myrzakmatov, who was fired by Satybaldiev in early December, said the mayoral contest was rigged and has vowed to contest the results. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/56d4d588-b13d-41f5-96a7-cddaee710a0e_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Myrzakmatov, who was fired by Satybaldiev in early December, said the mayoral contest was rigged and has vowed to contest the results.
![Myrzakmatov, who presided over the city during deadly clashes in 2010, called on supporters to resume the fight in 15 days, with the start of warmer weather. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/938946fd-d3de-4db6-93c4-00cfd7f4f63c_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Myrzakmatov, who presided over the city during deadly clashes in 2010, called on supporters to resume the fight in 15 days, with the start of warmer weather.
![The winner, Kadyrbaev, has vowed to restore order and begin the business of running Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/d172f5da-6dd4-4a91-8283-3dd8fd1908e4_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The winner, Kadyrbaev, has vowed to restore order and begin the business of running Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city.