President Sadyr Japarov has submitted an application to the Central Election Commission (CEC) to run for president as a self-nominated candidate, reported Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan.
The election is scheduled for January 27, 2027. Nominations close on November 13. By November 10, the CEC had received six applications. Aimen Kasenov, Azamat Esenbekov, Syymyk Zhapykeev, Akai Kydyrov and Iskak Masaliev had announced their intention to run earlier.
Japarov was first elected in an early election on January 10, 2021, with 79.2% of the vote, after the political crisis of October 2020. The 2021 Constitution introduced five-year presidential terms and a limit of two terms. The Constitutional Court ruled that his current term counts as the first one, so a victory in January would give him a second five-year term.
The vote will be closely watched abroad. Kyrgyzstan is one of the few Central Asian states with a record of competitive presidential elections, and the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights is considering sending an observation mission. Japarov is campaigning on a record of economic growth, state control over Kumtor and other gold deposits, and large infrastructure projects. Critics point to pressure on independent media and the opposition. The main question is how strong a challenge the other candidates can mount.
CentralasianLIGHT.org,
November 10, 2026