Sergei Colubr

During the Angelus last Sunday, Pope Francis called for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide. In Kyrgyzstan, local media did not report it since the practice "officially does not exist." Abolished in 2007, the death penalty is sometimes “unwittingly” carried out by police. For most Kyrgyz, the rejection of the death penalty is seen as another strange idea from Western culture.

As Kyrgyz prepare to cast their ballots this Sunday, candidates visit parishes and churches for support, as the country’s deputy prime minister did last Sunday, when he visited Bishkek’s Catholic church. Since religious communities must register, the country’s only three Catholic parishes might be de-registered because of new rules. Violent episodes have marked the current campaign.