Kyrgyzstan: A change of president Zhaparov is leading the latest independent polls, far ahead of 16 other candidates on the ballot. And that is despite refusing to take part in two rounds of televised presidential debates, which Zhaparov dismissed as "gossip debates." Candidate Zhaparov has presented himself as a man of the people in his campaign Zhaparov was serving a prison sentence for kidnapping until protesters freed him during the demonstrations against the results of parliamentary elections in early October, which forced the resignation of the government. Zhaparov became acting president. He resigned in November to be eligible to run for office again on January 10.