Reuters, Bishkek

Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov declared a state of emergency in the capital Bishkek yesterday and ordered troops to deploy, as supporters of rival political groups took to the streets after days of unrest following an overturned election.

Jeenbekov’s office said in a statement the state of emergency, which includes a curfew and tight security restrictions, would continue until 8:00 am on Oct. 21. Earlier the president had said he was ready to resign once a new cabinet was appointed.

The country has seen a power vacuum, with opposition groups quarrelling among themselves since seizing government buildings and forcing the cancellation of results from Sunday’s parliamentary election.

Russia has described the situation in Kyrgyzstan, which borders China and hosts a Russian military base, as “a mess and chaos”.

The crisis tests the Kremlin’s power to shape politics in its former Soviet sphere of influence, at a time when fighting has erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Belarus is also engulfed in protests.