WSJ story on the recent Kyrgyzstan vote on a new constitution that reduces the power of the president, legitimizes the country’s interim leadership, and strengthens the parliament.
This constitution will make Kyrgyzstan “the first of Central Asia’s former Soviet republics to shed a tradition of strong presidential rule.”
Ninety percent of the population endorsed the new constitution. Uzbeks voted for the constitution as well, seeing more protection in a parliamentary system.
So much for the “great game” whereby the Russians allegedly battle the Americans and the Chinese to decide how things evolve in the region. Little Kyrgyzstan has simply stood up for itself.