Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyzstan's parliament speaker said Thursday he would step down, two days after President Sadyr Japarov dismissed the country's secret service chief and arrested political figures who called for early elections.
In a surprise move, Japarov had sacked spy chief Kamchybek Tashiev -- in a decision Bishkek said was meant to "prevent division in society".
Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu told MPs he would step down, insisting that he was not resigning under pressure.
"Reforms initiated by the president must be carried out. Political stability is indispensable," he said.
Japarov had unexpectedly sacked Tashiev and three of his deputies on Tuesday, while Tashiev was in Germany for health treatment. He said when the sacking was announced, it was a "total surprise" to him.
The decision came the day after the publication of an open letter from 75 political figures and ex-officials calling to bring forward presidential elections -- scheduled for January 2027.
Five of those who signed the letter -- which criticised the economic situation in the country -- were arrested Wednesday on charges of organising mass riots.
