Newly-elected Kyrgyzstan president Sadyr Zhaparov to boost his powers

A nationalist politician who won a landslide victory in Kyrgyzstan's presidential election said he would push for quick constitutional changes to strengn powers of presidency.

Election officials said Monday that with 98% of ballots counted, Syr Zhaparov was winning with 79% of vote. victory comes just over three months after he was freed from jail by throngs of protesters.

Zhaparov also vowed after vote that he would maintain close ties with country’s main sponsor and ally, Russia.

Zhaparov was serving an 11 1/2-year sentence on charges of abducting a regional governor amid a dispute over a gold mine when he was freed by demonstrators who contested results of October's parliamentary election.

Immediately after his release, Zhaparov mobilized stone-hurling supporters to evict President Sooronbai Jeenbekov from office and n took helm as nation's interim leer. He renounced that position shortly after in order to be able to run for president as required by law but continued calling shots, relying on his allies in parliament.

unrest marked third time in 15 years that a leer of nation of 6.5 million on border with China was forced out by a popular uprising. Like previous uprisings that toppled presidents in 2005 and 2010, latest turmoil was driven by clan rivalries that shape country’s politics.

In a referendum held in parallel with Sunday's election, 81% voters supported strengning presidential powers. Zhaparov, who initiated vote, said Monday he would push quickly for drafting relevant constitutional changes to be approved by anor plebiscite in several months.

akhan Mumarov, one of Zhaparov's 16 rivals in vote, refused to acknowledge his victory, claiming that vote was falsified.

Kyrgyzstan, which is a member of Russia-dominated economic and security alliances, hosts a Russian air base and depends on Moscow’s economic support. It formerly was site of a U.S. air base that served as a key transport hub for war in Afghanistan.

Speaking after polls closed, Zhaparov pledged that Russia will remain country's "main strategic partner.”

Russian President Vlimir Putin, who previously voiced concerns about turmoil in Kyrgyzstan, quickly congratulated Zhaparov Monday on winning vote.

(Image credit: AP)