Learning From Kyrgyzstan’s Local Elections Local elections provide a window into the state of Kyrgyz politics – and what might come next in the three decade-long game of political musical chairs. May 01, 2021 A man in a Kyrgyz national hat casts his ballot at a polling station during the referendum in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sunday, April 11, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin Advertisement On April 11, voters in Kyrgyzstan went to the polls for the third time in six months. This time they cast votes in local elections and on a constitutional referendum, which legal experts and civil society groups have sharply criticized for slashing checks and balances on presidential power.