Bishkek, 18 January 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament today failed to pass an amendment to an election law that bars some former ambassadors from running for seats in parliament.
The amendment did not pass for lack of a quorum when the vote was made.
The move to amend the election law came after four former ambassadors -- Roza Otunbaeva, Usen Sydykov, Medetkan Sherimkulov, and Mambetjunus Abylov -- were refused registration for the 27 February elections. All four are in the opposition.
Electoral officials said none of the four had been living inside Kyrgyzstan long enough prior to the February poll to qualify them as candidates.
Kyrgyzstan's electoral code says citizens who have not lived in the country for five years before an election cannot register as candidates.
The move to amend the election law came after four former ambassadors -- Roza Otunbaeva, Usen Sydykov, Medetkan Sherimkulov, and Mambetjunus Abylov -- were refused registration for the 27 February elections. All four are in the opposition.
Electoral officials said none of the four had been living inside Kyrgyzstan long enough prior to the February poll to qualify them as candidates.
Kyrgyzstan's electoral code says citizens who have not lived in the country for five years before an election cannot register as candidates.