Protests broke out January 15 in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh after long-time mayor Melis Myrzakmatov was defeated in indirect elections. City lawmakers voted 25-19 to elect Aitmamat Kadyrbaev, the former deputy governor of the Osh region and an ally of Kyrgyz Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev. (RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, Ernist Nurmatov)
In Kyrgyzstan, Protests As Osh Gets New Mayor
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As many as 10,000 demonstrators gathered outside City Hall, throwing rocks and attempting to storm the building to protest the results.
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Voting under way in City Hall. Before the election, the majority coalition backing Kadyrbaev held a whisker-thin advantage of 23 to 22 seats.
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The vote count revealed that an additional two lawmakers had thrown their vote behind Kadyrbaev, leaving Myrzakmatov with 19 votes. (One ballot was declared "ruined.")
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Heavily armed police wait inside City Hall.
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Riot police form a blockade outside City Hall in attempt to discourage protesters from entering.
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A numbers of protesters stood and chanted. Some threw stones, and at least one burned a portrait of Kyrgyzstan's president, Almazbek Atambaev.
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Several dozen protesters arrived on horseback to voice support for Myrzakmatov.
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Myrzakmatov, who was fired by Satybaldiev in early December, said the mayoral contest was rigged and has vowed to contest the results.
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Myrzakmatov, who presided over the city during deadly clashes in 2010, called on supporters to resume the fight in 15 days, with the start of warmer weather.
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The winner, Kadyrbaev, has vowed to restore order and begin the business of running Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city.