The protests that began to shake Kyrgyzstan on the week of April 5 have left the country in a nebulous situation that could result in a new constitution and leadership. Anthony C. Bowyer, program manager for the Caucasus & Central Asia IFES, comments:

"The situation in Kyrgyzstan remains complex and opaque. In spite of rumors that President Bakiev will ultimately resign his post in the face of mounting pressure from the self-proclaimed new leadership in Bishkek, there remains the issue of constitutional transition. The mostly-unified opposition has claimed that a constitutional referendum will take place in sixty days and new presidential and parliamentary elections in six months’ time. This means discarding the previous constitution and engaging in what would be a record-setting pace of constitutional reform. While the current political transition process doesn’t technically have legal backing ( Bakiev remains the constitutionally-elected president until he resigns, abandons the post, perishes or is declared insane) it nevertheless is moving forward at breakneck speed. One can only hope that however it turns out, the process is legal, transparent, inclusive, and results in a system of government embraced by the masses and leadership duly elected (and held accountable) by the voters within a reasonable timeframe."