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Kyrgyz President Resigns After Unrest: 'I Don't Want to Go Down in History as Leader Who Shed Blood'

© REUTERS / Kyrgyz Presidential Press ServiceKyrgyzstan's President Sooronbai Jeenbekov speaks after parliamentary elections in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 4 October 2020.
Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbai Jeenbekov speaks after parliamentary elections in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 4 October 2020. - Sputnik International
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The Central Asian country was hit by mass protests earlier this month after parliamentary elections, which have since been annulled. The crowds clashed with law enforcement and stormed the parliament building, which also serves as the presidential office.

Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov has signed his resignation, the press service of the presidential office announced.

"I am not clinging to power. I do not want to remain in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a president who shed blood and shot at his own citizens. Therefore, I've decided to step down", an official statement from Jeenbekov said.

Jeenbekov also urged Sadyr Japarov, the newly-appointed prime minister, and other politicians to withdraw their supporters from the protests, "returning peaceful life to the residents of Bishkek".

Following Jeenbekov's resignation, the supporters of PM Japarov also called for the dissolution of the parliament.

© Sputnik / Akylbek Batyrbekov / Go to the mediabankProtesters take part in a rally against the appointment of opposition politician Sadyr Japarov as the country's new prime minister, at Ala-Too Square, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. On October 6, Japarov was appointed the new prime minister of Kyrgyzstan at an emergency meeting of parliament. He was just released from prison by protesters, where he was serving a term for taking a hostage during riots in 2013.
Kyrgyz President Resigns After Unrest: 'I Don't Want to Go Down in History as Leader Who Shed Blood' - Sputnik International
Protesters take part in a rally against the appointment of opposition politician Sadyr Japarov as the country's new prime minister, at Ala-Too Square, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. On October 6, Japarov was appointed the new prime minister of Kyrgyzstan at an emergency meeting of parliament. He was just released from prison by protesters, where he was serving a term for taking a hostage during riots in 2013.

Opposition protests earlier hit Kyrgyzstan after parliamentary elections held on 4 October. The protesters seized the capital’s White House and City Hall, also entering the building of the State Committee for National Security, prompting the release of former Kyrgyz president, Almazbek Atambaev, and other former officials, arrested amid the state of emergency.

Following the clashes, the Kyrgyz Central Commission annulled the election results, while several top Kyrgyz officials, including the country's prime minister, Kubatbek Baronov, resigned from their positions.

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