Kyrgyzstan ends state of emergency as PM claims presidential powers

Kyrgyzstan's parliament voted on Friday to end a state of emergency in capital Bishkek as Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov consolidated his power by formally assuming the interim presidency in the country.

Ex-president Sooronbai Jeenbekov, who resigned a day earlier, imposed the state of emergency and ordered troops to be deployed in Bishkek last week amid unrest triggered by the October 4 parliamentary elections.

Japarov, released from prison by his supporters and quickly elected prime minister by parliament, took over the presidency after parliament's speaker, Kanatbek Isayev, who is first in line under the constitution, declined to do so at the Friday session.

Japarov told the session he would address the nation of 6.5 million within hours.

Kyrgyzstan's parliament names Sadyr Zhaparov prime minister

Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked republic of 6.5 million people, has been dogged by political volatility for much of the three decades.

In a phone call Thursday, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told his new Kyrgyz counterpart Ruslan Kazakbayev of Moscow's "concern about the development of the internal political situation" and readiness to assist "legitimate state organs" seeking stability, a Russian foreign ministry statement said.

(CGTN)