Kyrgyzstan elected a new parliament on Sunday in a vote marked by tensions after claims of a plot to unseat populist President Sadyr Japarov, who rose to power in post-vote unrest last year.

In three decades of independence, the impoverished ex-Soviet Central Asian nation has become a byword for volatility, with three presidents unseated during street protests fuelled by a combination of corruption, crackdowns and anger over perceived election irregularities.

Results based on a near-complete count showed six parties entering parliament, most of whom are expected to be loyal to Japarov's government.

Kyrgyzstan is holding elections that are expected to deliver a 90-seat parliament largely loyal to populist President Sadyr Japarov
Kyrgyzstan is holding elections that are expected to deliver a 90-seat parliament largely loyal to populist President Sadyr Japarov AFP / VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO

While opinion polls show Japarov still enjoys popular support, critics say the recent jailing of potential rivals and a constitutional overhaul earlier this year show he is repeating the mistakes of predecessors.

His cash-strapped government also faces a difficult future, with a winter energy crisis looming, living costs rising and trade with neighbouring China hammered by the pandemic.

In the capital Bishkek, where both Russian and Kyrgyz are spoken, there was little sign of excitement about the vote.

Ulugbek Abdrashev, 36, said he would be backing an opposition party and said he hoped there would be fewer "wet fish lawmakers" in the next parliament.

In three decades of independence, the impoverished ex-Soviet Central Asian nation has become a byword for volatility
In three decades of independence, the impoverished ex-Soviet Central Asian nation has become a byword for volatility AFP / VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO

It was impossible to discount the possibility of unrest after the vote, he added.

"Everything is possible here. We (live) in a Wonderland," he told AFP, laughing.

Pro-government Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan appeared to be leading the party pack with more than 16 percent of the vote after over 90 percent of votes were counted.

At least one party identified with the opposition, Alliance, crossed the five percent barrier to enter parliament.

Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov cemented power by overseeing constitutional changes that stripped away single-term limits
Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov cemented power by overseeing constitutional changes that stripped away single-term limits POOL via AFP / HANNAH MCKAY

The Central Election Commission (CEC) reported a turnout of over 32 percent.

CEC member Tynchtyk Shaikhnazarov told a briefing the low turnout could be explained by the fact that there was less organised vote-buying than last year.

He also said Kyrgyz citizens were possibly "tired" of voting after presidential elections at the beginning of the year and a constitutional referendum in April.

Kyrgyzstan's most recent round of instability came after parliamentary elections a year ago, when supporters of losing parties took to the streets to denounce a vote they said was rigged in favour of parties close to then-president Sooronbay Jeenbekov.

The results were annulled and current leader Japarov, freed from prison during the unrest, was elected in January.

In an address published after Sunday's voting finished, Japarov hailed the elections as representing "the will of our people, in accordance with the country's constitution and international norms".

He also warned those competing in the race that acceptance of the results was "a demand of law and democracy".

"The authorities will never give grounds to those who intend to upset stability and peace," he said.

An international vote-monitoring mission led by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe will deliver its verdict on the vote on Monday.

Having cemented power by overseeing constitutional changes that stripped away single-term limits for sitting presidents and strengthened his office at the legislature's expense, Japarov pledged to "show the world" that Kyrgyzstan can hold free and fair elections.

But opposition candidates complained of administrative pressure.

One popular independent lawmaker, Ryskeldi Mombekov, was removed from the race by electoral authorities before his candidacy was reinstated by a judge as supporters from his home region threatened to rally.

In the end, the Social Democrats party that Mombekov represented fell short of the five percent threshold.

On the eve of the vote, the state committee for national security said it was detaining 15 people involved in what it claimed was a plot to overthrow the government involving "lawmakers and high-ranking former officials".

The statement did not mention who the authorities had arrested.

The outcome of the vote will be keenly watched by close partner Russia, which pledged support for the new government after initially criticising the political chaos that brought Japarov to power.