Overview

Background

Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991. Kyrgyzstan is a multiparty republic, featuring a president and unicameral legislature. Local politics are often fractious, roughly according to regional divides in the country.

Numerous Kyrgyz presidents have sought to expand presidential power at the expense of the other branches of government. Beginning in the mid-1990s, President Askar Akayev positioned himself to increase presidential...