Babanov Campaign Accuses Kyrgyz Election Officials Of Backing Ruling Party Candidate
Kyrgyz presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov's campaign team has accused election officials of obstructing his campaign and backing the candidate favored by outgoing President Almazbek Atambaev.
The allegations came hours before the Central Election Commission (BSK) issued a warning to Babanov about an alleged campaign violation, which could lead to an attempt to bar him from the ballot in the October 15 vote.
"We believe that the BSK is working exclusively for only one candidate who is the main opponent of Omurbek Babanov," Babanov's spokesman, Mirsuljan Namazaliev, told reporters in Bishkek on October 10.
Namazaliev also accused the Kyrgyz authorities of intimidating Babanov's supporters and openly using the levers of power in support of ruling Social Democratic Party candidate Sooronbai Jeenbekov, who is Atambaev's former prime minister….
