
The 2020 Kyrgyz Revolution, also referred to as the Third Kyrgyz Revolution, erupted on October 5, 2020, in response to parliamentary elections widely criticized as unfair and marred by allegations of electoral fraud. Mass protests quickly escalated, with demonstrators reclaiming Ala-Too Square in Bishkek on the morning of October 6. Protesters stormed the White House and Supreme Council buildings, damaging property and setting fires. Violence during the protests resulted in one death and nearly 600 injuries. Notably, protesters freed former president Almazbek Atambayev and opposition figure Sadyr Japarov from prison.
Amid mounting pressure, the electoral authorities annulled the election results on October 6. That same day, Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov resigned, and opposition forces moved swiftly to reconfigure the government. Sadyr Japarov, recently freed from prison, was named prime minister by the parliamentary majority, though opposition parties contested his legitimacy. Amid the turmoil, Japarov also declared himself acting president after President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned on October 15. Although the Kyrgyz Constitution stipulates that the speaker of the Supreme Council should assume the presidency, Kanatbek Isaev declined the role, leaving Japarov to consolidate power.
The revolution underscored widespread dissatisfaction with systemic corruption, electoral manipulation, and governance failures. The rapid escalation of events and the forced resignations of top leaders marked another pivotal moment in Kyrgyzstan’s tumultuous post-Soviet political history. Sadyr Japarov’s ascent highlighted the volatility of Kyrgyzstan’s political landscape, driven by public demands for accountability and reform.