Central Asia

Kyrgyz acting president to step down in order to run in January election

Kyrgyz PM Sadyr Japarov, a 51-year-old nationalist politician, came to power after violent protests over parliamentary elections last month toppled the government of President Sooronbay Jeenbekov.

Three-man US-Russian crew returns to Earth from ISS

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner landed on Earth southeast of the Kazakh city of Zhezkazgan completing their mission aboard the ISS.

Kyrgyz acting president seeks constitution change to run for full term

Sadyr Japarov, 51, took over as acting president last week after unrest toppled his predecessor Sooronbay Jeenbekov's government.

Kyrgyzstan's acting president wages war against crime, corruption

Interim Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov, a Kyrgyz nationalist, took temporary control of the presidency after the country's parliament voted to end a state of emergency imposed by its ousted president.

Kyrgyz PM claims presidential powers as Jeenbekov quits

Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov assumes presidential powers after resignation of President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Parliament speaker Kanatbek Isayev.

Kyrgyzstan's Japarov nominated again as premier in repeat parliament vote

Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov had earlier refused to sign the decree confirming Sadyr Japarov's appointment and asked the parliament to hold another vote.

Kyrgyz president says he will ask parliament to vote again on PM

The move could be a formality but, if the vote to elect Sadyr Japarov as Prime Minister of Kyrgyztan fails, it could further deepen the political crisis in a strategically located country.

Kyrgyzstan extends state of emergency amid violent protests

Violent protests in the volatile Asian country erupted after a disputed parliamentary election.

Long-time Tajikistan ruler Rahmon begins fifth term in office

Emomali Rahmon, first elected president in 1994, begins serving another seven-year term as president.

Lawmakers oppose Japarov's election in crisis-prone Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan's parliament has elected the populist politician Sadyr Japarov as acting prime minister however the critics say the quorum was not reached the at the time of the vote.

Veteran leader Rakhmon expected to win Tajikistan election

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon looks sure to secure a fifth term in office in ongoing election as campaigns of his four competitors admit they do not expect many votes.

Kyrgyzstan parliament names Japarov new PM

Sadyr Japarov, 51, was this week freed by his supporters from prison where he was serving a lengthy sentence on charges of taking a state official hostage in a 2013 incident.