Evidence has emerged that teachers in southern Kyrgyzstan are being pressured by their superiors to help mobilize the vote in favor of a party backed by an influential and shadowy power broker.
A WhatsApp audio message that has circulated on social media this week features the voice of a person alleged to be the head of the educational department of the Kara-Suu district in Osh region threatening staff with having salaries docked or jobs terminated unless they comply.
T-Media, a privately owned news website, has identified the speaker as Gulaym Mashrapova, who is also running for office with the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party.
