Dick Lugar: “this resolution urges the United States to increase its efforts to ensure democratic reform in the Kyrgyz Republic. The…”

“this resolution urges the United States to increase its efforts to ensure democratic reform in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Kyrgyz Republic has held two rounds of parliamentary elections, the first on February 27 the second on March 13. While both election rounds showed progress toward the goal of a free, fair, and transparent election process, the elections fell short of the Kyrgyz Republic's Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's OSCE and international commitments to fully meet the accepted criteria for democratic elections. Violations included instances of vote buying, questionable disqualification of candidates and interference with the media. Inspired by the recent revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia, the people of the Kyrgyz Republic rose against their corrupt government to demand respect for their democratic rights. Nationwide demonstrations sparked by the flawed parliamentary elections led to the departure of President Askar Akayev on March 22. The opposition moved quickly to consolidate control and established an interim government. On April 4, President Akayev officially resigned. But the situation remains fluid. The outcome in the Kyrgyz Republic is critically important for its future, and for people living in the Central Asia region, who hope for a democratic future. The United States and the Kyrgyz Republic have formed a close relationship since it declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.…”