Economist Intelligence Unit ranks Kyrgyzstan as authoritarian state

12:23, 14 февраля 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Baktygul OSMONALIEVA

British think tank the Economist Intelligence Unit believes that Kyrgyzstan has joined the list of other authoritarian countries in Central Asia.

In 2020, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Kyrgyzstan the 101st, but in 2021 the country has dropped to the 107th place.

The Kyrgyz Republic has lost its «hybrid regime» status, joining the states with an «authoritarian regime».

The EIU explains such changes by the country’s transition from a parliamentary to a presidential form of government and the expansion of the powers and influence of the head of state.

«In the conditions of the lowest voter turnout last year, the republic elected Sadyr Japarov as leader of the Kyrgyz Republic and supported the transition to a presidential system of government. Within a year, the head of state was given broad powers. At the same time, he has become the main figure in the executive branch, his influence on the legislative and judicial branches has grown, and the separation of powers has almost disappeared,» the center said in its report.

On February 10, at a ceremony of presenting state awards the president proclaimed the country’s motto, «Our goal is to build a new Kyrgyzstan». According to him, the renewed Kyrgyz Republic should become a state of truly free citizens who are proud of their past, satisfied with the present and are optimistically looking into the future.

The Economist Intelligence Unit is the research and analytical arm of the Economist Group that provides forecasting and advisory services through research and analysis, such as monthly country reports, five-year country economic forecasts, country risk reports and industry reports.