Kyrgyzstan president resigns after high court clears way for new elections News
Kyrgyzstan president resigns after high court clears way for new elections

[JURIST] Kyrgyzstan's deposed president Askar Akayev [official website] agreed Saturday to resign. Earlier in the day, the Kyrgyz Supreme Court had ruled that presidential elections would proceed on June 26 whether Akayev formally resigned or not. Under current law, a president must resign before the parliament is allowed to vote on holding new elections. The court's exception comes one week after it invalidated disputed parliamentary elections [JURIST report], and Akayev fled into exile in Russia. A parliamentary delegation is scheduled to fly to Moscow Sunday to meet with Akayev and discuss a preliminary resignation agreement. The agreement is expected to allow Akayev to return to the country at any time as a normal citizen. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.