Kyrgyz Ruling Coalition Leader Steps Down, Alleges Electoral Fraud

Feliks Kulov says his party registered at least 90 cases of fraud during local elections on November 25.

BISHKEK -- The leader of Kyrgyzstan's ruling coalition, Feliks Kulov, has stepped down from his position to protest what he called electoral fraud.

He announced his resignation on November 27 at a Bishkek meeting of his Ar-Namys (Dignity) party.

Kulov said his party had registered at least 90 cases of fraud during local elections on November 25.

Kulov's party failed to get the necessary 7 percent of the vote to win seats on local councils.

Preliminary results say the Social Democratic Party of President Almazbek Atambaev won the most votes in the local elections.

Former Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov's opposition Respublika party came in second, and the Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party came in third.

Kyrgyzstan's current ruling coalition of Ata-Meken, Ar-Namys, and the Social Democratic Party was established in September.