The Referendum

Kyrgyz Republic Embassy press release, 13–15 February 1996

Some few remarks on "Press Release #1" distributed by "Kyrgyz Republic Embassy" February 13-15.

The benefits of third Kyrgyz referendum held on February 10 is doubtful. The old Kyrgyz constitution was not bad and president Akayev was a chairman of the Constitutional comission which worked that Constitution out. The state power was divided into 3 branches before this referendum. Now - some negative sides of it.

• There were 52 amendments into 97 clauses of the Constitution. Are they amendments or it is a new Constitution?
• Kyrgyz parliament lost its control duties. Is such kind of body a real parliament?
• Kyrgyz president is not a head of the executive branch of power but he can appoint all top officials. Prime minister has very little rights now but he should give an annual report to parliament. Is he a real prime minister?
• President can appoint prime minister, Procurator General and chairman of National Bank only with consent of People's assembly of parliament. But majority of this Assembly are the local and regional authorities, who appointed by president's decrees and this Assembly, as it is mentioned in 'Press Release' is 'non-professional legislators'. Is it real dividing of the state power into independent branches?
• The clause 42 declares that "the president is a symbol of unity of the people and state power". Could somebody explain what is it?
• Also, the new draft regulates some private sides of the president (for example: honor of the president and all ex-presidents would be inviolable, president and his family would be full supported by the state and so on). Is the Constitution the document for it?

I can make a lot of other remarks, but the most grievious thing is that Kyrgyz authorities use the democratic measure - referendum - quite for other aims.

Naryn Aiyp