Seven people have been arrested in Kyrgyzstan on suspicion of attempting to foment vodka-fuelled mass riots in a bid to topple the government ahead of local elections this coming weekend, the interior ministry said on November 12.

"Under the guise of national sports games, they [the arrested individuals] intended to call for acts of violence, were going to put forward unconstitutional calls, and destabilise the situation for the further violent seizure of power on November 17 [the day of the elections]," the ministry said in a statement.

The detainees included several foreign nationals and a former deputy prosecutor general, accused of financing and organising the alleged conspirators, who have been remanded in custody until January 10, it added.

Reuters reported Kyrgyz police as stating that the authorities seized weapons and ammunition from the alleged riot organisers, along with 1,000 bottles of vodka to be laid on "to get the crowds drunk", 2,000 bottles of water, a tonne of rice for cooking pilaf and a horse intended for slaughter.

Kyrgyzstan has experienced three revolutions this century that led to the fall of a government. The current Japarov administration, which itself came to power following the last of the revolutions, in 2020, has identified several alleged coup plots during its four years at the helm. In July, the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) said it prevented an attempt at seizing power by detaining a group that, like the present detainees, were planning mass riots to destabilise the country. Also, in June last year, national security officers and police detained suspects accused of a coup plot.

In July 26, Central Asia journalist and analyst Bruce Pannier, writing for bne IntelliNews, explored the question of “Why does Kyrgyzstan’s [President Sadyr] Japarov see a coup around every corner?”

The police said that the alleged plotters in the latest claimed coup conspiracy planned to ignite unrest in suburbs of the capital Bishkek.

The scheduled elections are for seats on local councils in several districts.

Russia has a military base outside Bishkek. Moscow said on November 13 that it is in constant touch with Kyrgyzstan over the security situation in the country.