Kyrgyzstan: Opting for Russia

The outcome of the 4 October 2015 parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan was no surprise as all of the four political parties who won seats are pro-Russian. On 5 October 2015 Radio Free Europe therefore drew a remarkable conclusion: "That makes Kyrgyzstan something of a paradox: the only democracy within the former Soviet Union that is willing to return Russia's embrace." Rolf, persecution analyst for World Watch Research, agrees that Kyrgyzstan may appear to be an enigma. "On the one hand the country is the only democracy in the region, on the other hand they are one of the most obedient followers of Russia. Two factors may explain why this is so. First of all, Kyrgyzstan is one of the poorest countries in the region and heavily depends on remittances from its citizens working as guest workers in Russia. Secondly, democracy is more than just parliamentary elections, it is also about respect for the rule of law. Rule of law implies that every citizen is subject to the law, including law-makers themselves. This is clearly not the case in Kyrgyzstan, where people still look for stability as top priority." Rolf concludes: "This means that the Church in Kyrgyzstan is in a no better position than Christians living in the other former Soviet republics. Since 2009 restrictive legislation has oppressed believers in Kyrgyzstan and a new religion law is being drafted that may even increase pressure on them. The latest elections offer no relief at all."