#147: Kyrgyzstan is not Russia...

Or maybe it is. In either case, the results of the December 2 elections with United Russia grabbing 64% of votes can plant wrong ideas in the heads of the Kyrgyz rulers. Ex-PM Atambaev already warned about it. I doubt that our authorities, unlike Russia's, can get away with it. As for Russia, '"If Russia is a managed democracy then this was a managed election," Luc van den Brande, the head of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly said.' [from here.]

SDPK's Edil Baisalov is being taken off the race by the CEC for taking picture of the ballot paper from the printing press and posting it on his blog before the actual voting day. Although he removed the picture, the CEC decided it was in illegal act. Earlier Edil criticized the CEC for printing the ballots on regular paper without any tamper-proof features (watermarks, etc.)

Campaigning is going rather peacefully, although there are accusations that Ak Jol is being given all the airtime on TV, while other parties, especially SDPK and Atameken, are being refused airtime even for paid ads under the excuse that there is no free spot. In terms of creativity, party slogans are suffering as well. Turan, a fake opposition party, plagiarized from United Russia's slogan "Putin's Plan - Russia's Victory" to make "Plan of Turan - Victory of Kyrgyzstan." At least it rhymes.

I still have not decided which party to vote for, although I know whom I will not vote for.

On a less-political and holiday-moody note, Kyrgyzstan is apparently Santa's home. A Swedish consultancy concluded that Santa Clause has to live in Kyrgyzstan to visit all the children on earth to deliver the presents on time. A great image for Kyrgyzstan to build upon. Kyrgyzstan - Santa's Headquarters!