Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Kurmanbek Bakiyev, a leader of Kyrgyzstan’s uprising last spring, was elected president this week by an overwhelming majority of nearly 90 percent. Such a landslide could seem suspiciously reminiscent of Soviet-era rigged elections, but local democracy activists said the balloting was legitimate. They said the vote was more a rejection of the old, Russocentric regime than an endorsement of Bakiyev personally. Bakiyev, 55, has been acting president of the former Soviet republic since Askar Akayev fled to Russia in March. “I don’t feel a tremendous joy or euphoria,” Bakiyev said. “But I feel huge responsibility.”
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