Europe's main democracy body called on Kyrgyzstan on Monday to hold a free and democratic July 10 presidential election to win credibility for a new leader after last month's toppling of President Askar Akayev. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said a smooth and peaceful transition of power would be a good example for other states of Central Asia. "It is essential to have a peaceful and democratic transition," OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel told a news conference during a visit to the mountainous ex-Soviet state.
"Kyrgyzstan's clear commitment ... to international standards will contribute to the credibility of the elected president, and stability, and the international reputation of the country."
The OSCE voiced concerns about Kyrgyzstan's stability after the March 24 ouster of Akayev who had ruled for almost 15 years but fled in the wake of violent protests in the capital Bishkek triggered by a flawed parliamentary poll.
"I was pleasantly surprised by the brightening up of the atmosphere in Bishkek," Rupel said. "There are no massive demonstrations, there is no violence, there is no interruption of the political process." Akayev's departure from power sent shockwaves through an autocratic region, all of whose leaders have used referenda or other legal loopholes to prolong their stay in power.