Kyrgyzstan will be holding its first post-revolutionary presidential elections on Sunday. I will be posting my thoughts later, but for now, here is a roundup of links to interesting reading material to prep for tomorrow’s events.

– First ever televised debates held (transcript here).
– Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty asks, “Will the election be free and fair?“
– Bakiev out in front, and Akayev backs him.
– Foreign observers and journalists allowed, except from the CIS!

Bishkek, 30 June 2005 (RFE/RL) — Kyrgyzstan’s election officials have given permission to some 80 foreign groups to monitor the country’s 10 July presidential poll, but have rejected a monitoring request from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Tuiguunali Abdraimov, chairman of the election commission, said late today that 810 observers and 187 foreign reporters have so far applied and been approved to monitor the poll. He said the commission has denied permission only to seven monitors from the CIS, accusing them of attempting to blackmail election officials. The CIS Election Monitoring Organization had expressed concern after its 21 June application was delayed, saying it was likely due to the group’s “principles” that it said “may provoke fears from those political forces that wish to repeat the lawlessness in March.” (AFP, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service)

– David Mikosz publishes a newsletter, the latest of which is here. Did you know they had “Rock the Vote” concerts across the country?
– Of course, keep checking out Registan.