Radio Free Europe
RFE/RL journalists report the news in 22 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia.
Kyrgyzstan Votes On Constitutional Changes To Strengthen Presidency.
Voters in Kyrgyzstan have approved a new constitution that expands the power of the president in a referendum, according to preliminary results.
The Central Election Commission (BShK) said results from 90 percent of ballots showed that around 79 percent of voters backed the constitutional amendments.
The BShK said turnout was around 35 percent, just above the 30 percent threshold required to make the referendum valid.
The new constitution reduces the size of parliament by 25 percent to 90 seats and gives the president the power to appoint judges and heads of law enforcement agencies. The current law allowing a president only one term will be scrapped in favor of allowing reelection to a second term.
The amendments also envision the creation of a so-called People's Kurultai (Assembly), described as "a consultative and coordinating organ" that would be controlled by the president. Critics say it could act as a parallel parliament and a way for the president to exert more power.
The referendum comes three months after Sadyr Japarov was elected president following a tumultuous period that saw the ouster of the previous government amid protests over October parliamentary elections and months of political wrangling over the future of the country.
Japarov proposed drafting a new constitution in November 2020 as he emerged from the turmoil as acting president in the wake of the resignation of then-President Sooronbai Jeenbekov. He easily won the presidential election in January, while a referendum held in tandem saw voters opt for a presidential system that will be the centerpiece of the proposed constitutional amendments.
Speaking to reporters after voting at a polling station outside Bishkek, Japarov said the new constitution was the work of some 100 Kyrgyz experts and would replace a document he said was "copied from many countries."
"Over the past 30 years, many changes have been made to our constitution, which were copied from various sources or from other countries, and this is how we lived," Japarov said .
Incidents and irregularities were reported at some polling stations.
Three individuals attacked a journalist, whose mobile phone was also taken, and an election observer in the southern city of Osh. Police said they were investigating.
Also in Osh, police said they had opened a probe after two local politicians were apparently caught on camera trying to buy votes.
Overall, an NGO monitoring the polls said it had so far registered 50 voting irregularities, with 31 in Bishkek and 19 in Osh.
Some in the Central Asian country have criticized Japarov, saying the new constitution is being rushed through to create an authoritarian system and concentrating too much power in the hands of the president.
In an interview with RFE/RL in March, Japarov defended the changes as needed to create a strong central branch of government to "establish order" in the country of 6.5 million people, which has experienced three uprisings ousting the government since 2005.
He also rejected concerns about a power grab, saying Kyrgyzstan will "remain a democratic country." The country is also holding local elections. Japarov was among several prominent politicians freed from prison by protesters during the October unrest.
He had been serving a 10-year prison sentence for hostage taking during a protest against a mining operation in northeast Kyrgyzstan in October 2013. He maintains the charges against him were politically motivated.
Three More Power Plants Hit As Russia Targets Ukraine's Energy Sector.
Russia missiles and drones hit three thermal power plants of Ukraine's largest private power firm DTEK on March 29, damaging facilities, the company said, as Moscow’s forces launched fresh attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector.
U.S. Again Dismisses Russian Assertion Of Ukrainian Link To Concert Hall Attackers
The White House has again dismissed Russia's allegation that Ukraine was involved in the attack on the Crocus City concert hall and said that the United States had passed clear and detailed information to Russian security services about an extremi...
Russian Mathematician Sentenced To 4 Years In Prison On Justifying Terrorism Charge.
A court in Yekaterinburg sentenced mathematician Azat Miftakhov on March 28 to four years in prison on a charge of justifying terrorism, which he and his supporters reject.
Russian Veto Ends UN Monitoring Enforcement Of North Korea Nuclear Sanctions.
Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution in a move that effectively abolishes the monitoring by UN experts of sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program, although the sanctions themselves remain in place.
Court In Russia's Bashkortostan Orders Arrest Of Former Navalny Team Member.
A former member of late Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's team in Bashkortostan, Olga Komleva, was sent to pretrial detention on March 28 on a charge of participating in an extremist group's activities.
Baltimore bridge collapse: Six missing workers 'presumed dead'.
Six construction workers are presumed dead after a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. "At this point, we do not believe that we are going to find the individuals still alive", a company official said. The ship was hal...
Tim Scott: We have to continue to elect conservative senators.
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., discusses the need for a GOP majority in the Senate on ‘Hannity.’ Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch Fox News Channel Live: FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering b...
LIVE: Aftermath of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse as search for six missing continues.
LIVE: Aftermath of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse as search for six missing continues Six construction workers are presumed dead after plunging into icy water when a cargo ship smashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Read more: H...
Queen Camilla has been leading royal duties
King Charles and the Princess of Wales have been forced to step back from royal engagements as they deal with their health issues, leaving Queen Camilla to take the lead on many royal duties. Sky's Alice Porter reports. Read more: #royalfamily #qu...
Former FBI deputy director weighs in on Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs investigation.
CNN senior law enforcement analyst and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe weighs in on the federal investigation of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs following the search of Combs’ homes on Monday. #CNN #News
Dead Boeing whistleblower's lawyer speaks out: 'Shocked'.
Robert Turkewitz, lawyer of the deceased Boeing whistleblower John Barnett, says family and legal team are 'shocked and devastated' on 'Jesse Watters Primetime.' #foxnews #jessewattersprimetime Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Wat...