ISTANBUL

Turkey on Sunday welcomed peaceful elections in Kyrgyzstan.

“We are pleased that the early Presidential elections and referendum regarding the governmental system in Kyrgyzstan on 10 January 2021 were conducted in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“We wish that the results of the elections and referendum will be auspicious for the friendly and brotherly Kyrgyzstan.”

“Turkey will support the steps taken towards the conclusion of the democratic process in Kyrgyzstan on the basis of inclusiveness and social reconciliation,” the statement read.

Kyrgyzstan’s former Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov won Sunday’s presidential elections in Central Asian country, according to unofficial results.

President of the Central Election Commission Nurjan Shaildabekova told reporters that Japarov secured around 79% of the votes, citing preliminary results.

The country also voted to decide on its form of government: parliamentary, presidential, or no change.

Shaildabekova said that around 34% of the voters voted in the referendum, with 81.2% of them voting for the presidential form of government.