Kyrgyzstan holds snap parliamentary vote as opposition faces crackdown

Polls opened in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan on Sunday in a snap parliamentary election amid the arrests of opposition figures and the closure of independent media outlets.

It is expected to cement the grip of President Sadyr Zhaparov, who has sought to suppress dissent in what was once Central Asia’s most democratic country.

The vote is being held a year earlier than scheduled, a move that officials have justified by arguing that the parliamentary elections would otherwise fall too close to the 2027 presidential elections.

There have also been sweeping changes to Kyrgyzstan’s electoral system, with 30 constituencies electing three lawmakers each. According to the Central Election Commission, 467 candidates are vying for the 90 seats in Kyrgyzstan’s one-chamber parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh. There’s also a gender quota system that requires at least one female lawmaker from each district.

Analysts say candidates loyal to Zhaparov are likely to succeed thanks to the rapidly growing economy over which the Kyrgyz leader presides, fueled in part by Kyrgyzstan’s role in circumventing sanctions against Russia.

Kyrgyzstan, one of the poorest countries to emerge from the former Soviet Union, is a member of Russia-dominated economic and security alliances, hosts a Russian air base and depends on Moscow’s economic support. It was formerly the site of a U.S. air base that was used in the war in Afghanistan.

But Zhaparov has also sought to cement his position by cracking down on potential rivals.

“The suppression of the opposition and independent media, the growing economy, and Russia’s support guarantee the current ruling elite’s hold on power,” Emil Juraev, an independent analyst in Bishkek, told the Associated Press. “There is virtually no opposition participating in the elections. The elections will be very predictable and, as some have already described, dull.”

In the week before the elections, Kyrgyz authorities launched a wave of arrests, searches, and interrogations against opposition figures and journalists, a move that has been described by critics as politically motivated.

Many of those targeted have been accused of calling for “mass unrest.” Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has reported the arrest of at least 10 opposition figures.

“There will be no coups,” Zhaparov, who came to power in 2020 after his predecessor was ousted by a popular uprising sparked by a contentious parliamentary election, declared in his pre-election address. “From now on, you will only see coups in your dreams.”

Some of those targeted are allies of former President Almazbek Atambayev, who ruled Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2017 and now lives in Spain. Atambayev’s son was detained, and his wife was summoned for questioning.

Journalists have also been under attack. In late October, a Kyrgyz court labeled three of the country’s major independent media outlets — Kloop, Temirov Live and AitAit Dese — as “extremist organizations,” the first such ruling in the country’s history.

The decision bans access to the outlets’ websites in Kyrgyzstan, as well as activity “under the direction or with the participation” of journalists Bolot Temirov and Rinat Tuhvatshin, who were at the helm of Temirov Live and Kloop, respectively.

This decision follows a new media law signed by Zhaparov in August, which requires all media outlets, including online platforms, to register with the authorities.

According to Human Rights Watch, “the Kyrgyz government has intimidated and silenced journalists, media outlets, human rights defenders and government critics. New laws curtail the rights of citizens to information.”

Although the U.S. State Department has classified an array of “significant human rights issues” in Kyrgyzstan, in November U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of five Central Asian countries, including Zhaparov, at the White House. During the summit, the leaders discussed access to the region’s rich mineral resources, where China and Russia are already actively pursuing their interests.

Kyrgyzstan’s economy is experiencing rapid growth, allowing the country’s president to contain popular discontent. Kyrgyzstan’s GDP has grown for the fourth consecutive year, rising by 10% from January to September this year, according to a report from the State Statistics Committee.

Analysts believe that the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan are a rehearsal for the presidential election, already scheduled for January 2027, and that control over the new parliament will allow incumbent Zhaparov to prepare for the presidential campaign.

“When we talk about the president, we are, of course, talking about a unified power structure, the ruling elite of Kyrgyzstan. And for this group, parliament will not just be a majority; the entire parliament will support the president and his policies,” Juraev told the AP.

A voter holds a ballot during the parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tash-Dobo, south of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)

In this photo provided by Kyrgyzstan's Presidential Press Office, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and his wife Aigul Japarova vote during the parliamentary elections at a polling station, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (Sultan Dosaliev,Kyrgyzstan's Presidential Press Office via AP)

Members of the election commission count ballots at a polling station after the parliamentary elections in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)

A voter holds his ballot during the parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tash-Dobo, south of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)

A Kyrgyz Army soldier casts his ballot during the parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tash-Dobo, 19 km (11 miles) south of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)

BRISTOL, Pa. (AP) — A thunderous explosion Tuesday at a nursing home just outside Philadelphia killed at least two people, collapsed part of the building, sent fire shooting out and left people trapped inside, authorities said.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a news conference several hours after the explosion that at least two had been killed after emergency responders braved the flames, a heavy odor of gas and a second explosion to evacuate residents and employees.

Fire officials said they were in “rescue mode” five hours later, with responders still digging by hand and using search dogs, earth-moving equipment and sonar to locate potential victims.

The explosion happened at Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol Township, just as a utility crew had been on site looking for a gas leak.

A plume of black smoke rose from the nursing home, as emergency responders, fire trucks and ambulances from across the region rushed there, joined by earthmoving equipment.

Authorities did not identify those who died and did not know the total number of those injured after residents and employees were evacuated to a number of different hospitals.

Shapiro asked his fellow Pennsylvanians to take a moment to pray “for this community, for those who are still missing, for those who are injured, and for those families who are about to celebrate Christmas with an empty chair at their table.”

The town's fire chief, Kevin Dippolito, said at the Tuesday evening news conference that there were five people still unaccounted for, but he cautioned that some may have left the scene with family members.

Dippolito described a chaotic rescue where firefighters found people stuck in stairwells and elevator shafts, and pulled residents out of the fiery building through windows and doors. Two people were rescued from a collapsed section of building, he said.

Firefighters handed off patients to waiting police officers outside, including one “who literally threw two people over his shoulders,” Dippolito said. “It was nothing short of extraordinary.” A second explosion erupted during the rescue, he said.

Bucks County emergency management officials said they received the report of an explosion at approximately 2:17 p.m. and said a portion of the building was reported to have collapsed.

Willie Tye, who lives about a block away, said he was sitting at home watching a basketball game on TV when he heard a “loud kaboom.”

“I thought an airplane or something came and fell on my house,” Tye said.

He got up to go look and saw “fire everywhere” and people escaping the building. “Just got to keep praying for them,” Tye said.

Shapiro said a finding that the gas leak caused the explosion was preliminary.

The local gas utility, PECO, said while its crews were responding to reports of a gas odor at the nursing home, an explosion happened. "PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents,” the utility said in a statement.

Investigators from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's went to the scene. Finding that the explosion was caused by a gas leak won’t be confirmed until the agency can examine the scene, a utility commission spokesperson said.

Musuline Watson, who said she was a certified nursing assistant at the facility, told WPVI-TV/ABC 6 that, over the weekend, she and others there smelled gas, but “there was no heat in the room, so we didn’t take it to be anything.”

The 174-bed nursing home is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Philadelphia. It is newly affiliated with Saber Healthcare Group and had been known until recently as Silver Lake Healthcare Center.

In a statement, Saber called the explosion “devastating.” It said facility personnel had promptly reported a gas smell to PECO before the explosion and that it was working with authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, residents and the community.

The latest state inspection report for the facility was in October and the Pennsylvania Department of Health found that it was not in compliance with several state regulations.

The inspection report said the facility failed to provide an accurate set of floor plans and to properly maintain several stairways, including storing multiple paint buckets and a bed frame under landings.

It also said the facility failed to maintain portable fire extinguishers on one of the three levels and failed to provide the required “smoke barrier partitions,” which are designed to contain smoke on two floors. It also said it didn’t properly store oxygen cylinders on two of three floors.

According to Medicare.gov, the facility underwent a standard fire safety inspection in September 2024, during which no citations were issued. But Medicare’s overall rating of the facility is listed as “much below average,” with poor ratings for health inspections in particular.

Associated Press reporter Holly Ramer in Concord, N.H., and Michael Casey in Boston contributed to this report. Levy and Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Emergency personnel work at the scene of an explosion and fire at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Bristol, Pa. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer)

First responders work at the scene of an explosion and fire at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Bristol, Pa. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

First responders work the scene of an explosion and fire at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Bristol, Pa. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Montgomery County search and rescue join first responders at the scene of an explosion and fire at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Bristol Township, Pa. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

First responders work the scene of an explosion and fire at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Bristol Township, Pa. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

CORRECTS NAME OF FACILITY - First responders gather at the scene of an explosion at Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol Township, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa)

First responders gather at the scene of an explosion at Silver Lake Healthcare Center in Bristol Township, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa)

First responders are on the scene of a fire after an explosion at a nursing home in Bristol Township, Pa., on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP)