Kyrgyzstan’s hasty transition
In January 2021, the citizens of Kyrgyzstan voted through a referendum to change the country’s political system, opting for a presidential form of governance that stands to boost the power of its newly elected president, Sadyr Japarov. While some argue this move could bring stability to the deeply divided society, others point out that it could also mark the beginning of a shift away from the openness that earned the country its reputation as the freest in Central Asia.
