Constitutional referendum in Kyrgyzstan (2016)

After gaining independence, the Constitution was adopted in 1993, as amended after referenda in 1996 , 1998 , 2003 , 2007 and 2010 . However, the current Constitution prohibited any changes until 2020 ^[3] . The original version of the 2010 Constitution was amended ^[4] .

The proposed amendments to the Constitution were put forward by five parties and included the strengthening of the powers of the Prime Minister and the Supreme Council , as well as reforms in the judicial system ^[3] . The proposed changes also determined that a marriage can only be between “a man and a woman”, and not “between two people” (this was criticized by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe ) ^[5] .

There were reports of alleged fraud. Some political parties resorted to buying votes: people said that they were offered from 500 to 1000 soms (from $ 7 to $ 14) per vote. Speaking at a press conference, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Almaz Orozaliev reported on five such cases (three in Bishkek and two in Northern Chui Oblast) ^[6] .