Thank you for sharing these videos! As much as I believe that corruption, as well as the oppression of political opponents and the press, is worth standing up to, I hope beyond reason that these people's understandable demands are met without further bloodshed. From your time there, do you know if there is an ethic divide between those in power now, and the leadership of the opposition? Do ethnic Russians control a good bit of the political power/wealth there?
The previous revolution which ousted Akayev and installed Bakiev caused a lot of damage and installed yet another corrupt regime. I understand completely where the urge to get rid of Bakiev comes from, but I'm not convinced that rioting mobs are going to be able to install a leader who will be any better.
The government is actually nearly all ethnic Kyrgyz. Even though most people (especially in the north) speak Russian very well, if not as their primary language, Bakiev instituted a Kyrgyz language requirement to be president, and perhaps for other gov positions as well.
I'd say the bulk of the ethnic russians who lived in K-stan at the collapse of the USSR returned to Russia. There are still plenty there, but they're definitely a minority.
The divide between the masses and the people in charge right now is money and corruption, not ethnicity.
After looking at the other videos, I felt a little silly for asking that question, so thank you for taking the time to answer a neophyte's question. Perhaps if the early reports are to be believed this will draw to a conclusion shortly.
4 comments:
Thank you for sharing these videos! As much as I believe that corruption, as well as the oppression of political opponents and the press, is worth standing up to, I hope beyond reason that these people's understandable demands are met without further bloodshed. From your time there, do you know if there is an ethic divide between those in power now, and the leadership of the opposition? Do ethnic Russians control a good bit of the political power/wealth there?
Thanks for sharing these — I hadn't heard what was going on until I checked here.
The previous revolution which ousted Akayev and installed Bakiev caused a lot of damage and installed yet another corrupt regime. I understand completely where the urge to get rid of Bakiev comes from, but I'm not convinced that rioting mobs are going to be able to install a leader who will be any better.
The government is actually nearly all ethnic Kyrgyz. Even though most people (especially in the north) speak Russian very well, if not as their primary language, Bakiev instituted a Kyrgyz language requirement to be president, and perhaps for other gov positions as well.
I'd say the bulk of the ethnic russians who lived in K-stan at the collapse of the USSR returned to Russia. There are still plenty there, but they're definitely a minority.
The divide between the masses and the people in charge right now is money and corruption, not ethnicity.
After looking at the other videos, I felt a little silly for asking that question, so thank you for taking the time to answer a neophyte's question. Perhaps if the early reports are to be believed this will draw to a conclusion shortly.
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