The Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) Kamchybek Tashiev commented on the detention of members of Social Democrats party.
According to him, candidates for deputy organized vote buying through campaigners.
«They have compiled lists of those, who should be given money and how much. We are taking measures within the framework of the law. Three or four people from this party have already been taken into custody. This will also be made in the future. There are three days left until the elections. Law enforcement agencies will work before and on the election day at headquarters and polling stations. Do not buy votes,» Kamchybek Tashiev said.
He added that if officials campaign for one party or another, they will also be held accountable.
Searches were conducted at the headquarters of Social Democrats political party on November 13, and its leader Temirlan Sultanbekov was taken in for questioning. He was released at 3.30 a.m., and an hour later, at 4:30 a.m., law enforcement officers arrived at the house of Sultanbekov’s parents, put the party leader and his father in a car and took them to the Main Internal Affairs Department of Bishkek.
Irina Karamushkina was also taken in for questioning and placed in a temporary detention facility.
The Main Department of Internal Affairs of Bishkek reported that a criminal case had been opened under the article «Vote buying» of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic after an audio recording of a conversation allegedly between the head of the headquarters of the Social Democrats party Irina Karamushkina and a candidate Daniyar Cholponbaev was posted on social media, where they allegedly discussed vote buying in the upcoming elections of deputies of local councils, which will be held on November 17, 2024.
The presidential decree «On the dissolution of local councils and calling the elections of deputies of local councils» was issued on September 6. Elections of deputies of 33 city and 231 rural councils are scheduled for November 17.
