Presidential candidate Babanov's allegations about Kyrgyz security services preparing provocations groundless - national security agency
BISHKEK. Oct 15 (Interfax) - The statements of Kyrgyz opposition presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov about some provocations being prepared on the part of the country's security services are groundless, a Committee spokesperson said.
"Babanov's statements about provocations allegedly being prepared by the GKNB [State National Security Committee] are void and have no grounds," the State National Security Committee spokesperson told Interfax on Sunday.
"In accordance with the above, we propose to Mr. Babanov to provide to the public the information on which his public statements were based," the spokesperson said.
"In the absence of those, we will conclude that presidential candidate Babanov has misled the public," the official said.
Babanov made a statement earlier on Sunday about serious violations taking place during the presidential election.
"There is no fair election today... [...] Law enforcement authorities are interfering with the election. Is this what they call a fair election? Why hold such elections?" Babanov said when talking to reporters on Sunday.
According to Babanov, "the Interior Ministry and the State National Security Committee are preparing provocations" aimed against him and his allies. "But I won't yield to provocations. We won't be seizing anything. But we will be recording all violations [...], be working and waiting until the people have cast their ballots. I want to wait until the election results come in and give my opinion," Babanov added.
He also drew attention to the fact that his observers had come across some serious election violations in southern Kyrgyzstan where "law enforcement authorities are interfering with the voting process".
The presidential election is under way in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday. Polling stations opened their doors at 8 a.m. (5 a.m. Moscow time). Eleven candidates are running for presidency, including three former prime ministers: Omurbek Babanov, Sooronbai Jeenbekov and Temir Sariyev.
Kyrgyz Interior Minister Almaz Orozaliyev earlier on Sunday described the socio-political situation in the country during the presidential election as stable. Local observers indicated the absence of serious violations over the course of the voting.