Kyrgyzstan moves to reform constitution

A Kyrgyzstan advisory council began drafting reforms to the Central Asian nation’s constitution today, aiming to curb presidential authority and grant parliament more power in the wake of last month’s dramatic revolt.

The new 114-member council, which includes MPs and members of non-governmental organisations, hopes to make recommendations on reform before the July 10 presidential vote to replace Askar Akayev, who was ousted in a popular uprising March 24.

The council was still debating when the proposals would be implemented.

“We need systematic reforms of the government and need to create new kinds of relations between the branches of power so that there’s no pressure on one another,” said Cholpon Bayekova, chairwoman of the constitutional court.

Acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev urged the council to include proposals stripping the president and MPs of immunity from prosecution, particularly after they leave office.

“We need constitutional reform to prevent a person or a group of people from usurping power in the future,” he said.

He also urged the council to abolish the death penalty and to replace it with a punishment of life in prison, the Interfax news agency reported.

Bakiyev will face former security chief and key opposition leader Felix Kulov in the July election.