"MATRYOSHKAGATE" FALL-OUT: EVERBODY WANTS TO JOIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001316

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: "MATRYOSHKAGATE" FALL-OUT: EVERBODY WANTS TO JOIN
THE OPPOSITION

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Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger, REASON 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Since opposition MP Omurbek Tekebayev was
cleared of drug smuggling charges in Poland and returned to
Kyrgyzstan, the "Matryoshkagate" scandal has been the talk of
the town -- and of Parliament. Looking relaxed and confident
-- and clearly enjoying his role as a national hero --
Tekebayev told us September 13 about his ordeal in Poland and
who he thinks might have been behind the plot against him.
He said that the ultimate impact of the scandal on the
Bakiyev government would depend on how President Bakiyev
addressed Parliament's demands for reforms and a full
investigation. President Bakiyev appeared before Parliament
September 14, promising his full support to both the
parliamentary and state commissions investigating the affair,
and stating that constitutional reform would go forward
quickly. Parliament will continue to debate the issue
September 15, and on September 17, Tekebayev and other
opposition politicians will participate in a "Kurultai," an
opposition rally in the southern Aksy district. The incident
has re-energized the political scene, and resurrected
Tekebayev, the Parliament, and the opposition. END SUMMARY.

TEKEBAYEV ON MATRYOSHKAGATE
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2. (C) Wags in Bishkek have dubbed the growing scandal
surrounding the apparent planting of drugs by Kyrgyz security
services on former Speaker and current MP Omurbek Tekebayev
"Matryoshkagate," and the impacts from the scandal are
spreading. Immediate fall-out from the scandal has hit the
National Security Service (SNB),with President Bakiyev
removing his brother Janysh as SNB First Deputy Chairman and
accepting the resignation of SNB Chairman Busurmankul
Tabaldiyev. (NOTE: SNB Deputy Elmurza Satybaldiyev has been
appointed Acting SNB Chairman. END NOTE.) But the scandal
has also emboldened the Parliament, and it has rehabilitated
Tekebayev, making him again a national figure. Tekebayev
made a surprise showing at the DCM's welcoming reception on
September 13 and used the occasion to sit down and tell us
about his ordeal in Poland, who he suspects might have been
behind the set-up, and what he thinks will follow. Tekebayev
supporters, including Emil Umetaliyev, Omurbek Andrakhmanov,
and NGO leader Asiya Sasykbaeva, participated in the
discussion, over beer and wine in the Ambassador's garden.


3. (C) Looking relaxed and confident, and clearly enjoying
his role as a national hero, Tekebayev described his time in
Poland from the arrest at the airport September 5 to his
release by a court three days later. Not usually a reserved
person, he surprised himself at how calmly he had reacted to
the situation. He was impressed with the Polish court
system. The judge "evaluated all the evidence" (such as no
fingerprints on the matryoshka),Tekebayev's background, and
the political situation in Kyrgyzstan, and ruled that it was
not possible Tekebayev would risk his reputation by carrying
drugs. Interestingly, Tekebayev was also asked during the
hearing if he was a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, and he
responded that it would be impossible, as he was an atheist,
as well as the founder and leader of a social democratic
party.


4. (C) Tekebayev said he was not convinced that Janysh
Bakiyev masterminded the plot against him; he said he
suspected former Presidential Chief of Staff Usen Sydykov, a
"schemer" with motive and access. He laid out the following
scenario: Opposition demands led to Sydykov's dismissal as
Chief of Staff in May 2006. Sydykov's son is the vice
president of Bishkek's Manas Airport. Sydykov has long had a
rivalry with Bakiyev's brothers, and he reportedly had
advised Bakiyev to remove his brothers from their government
posts. Sydykov has a connection (same home area, maybe more)
to Airport security chief Nadir Mamyrov, who was seen in the

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airport surveillance tapes showing an interest in Tekebayev's
bag (Ref B),and who has reportedly written a letter to
President Bakiyev confessing and saying that Janysh Bakiyev
was behind the plot. (NOTE: Several versions of Mamyrov's
letter have surfaced, and Mamyrov himself is reportedly in
hiding. END NOTE.)


5. (C) Regarding further fall-out from the scandal, Tekebayev
said that the next few days would be crucial. Much would
depend, he said, on whether President Bakiyev appeared before
Parliament and how he addressed Parliament's demands. If
Bakiyev gave a reasonable explanation of events, asked
forgiveness for past mistakes, recalled his brothers from
their positions (Ambassador to Germany; trade rep at the
Kyrgyz Embassy in China),and promised soonest constitutional
reform, then Parliament may give him a chance. Similarly,
what happens at the opposition "Kurultai" rally on September
17 would depend on what happens in Parliament over the next
two days.


6. (C) Separate from the discussion of Tekebayev's case, one
guest in this group relayed Foreign Minister Jekshenkulov's
reported comments on the PNGing of two U.S. diplomats this
past summer. Standing with a small group in the lobby of
Parliament September 12, Jekshenkulov was asked to comment on
the "diplomatic scandal." He said that he could not stop the
PNG process because people "there" (pointing to the ceiling)
had showed him pictures taken by the two U.S. diplomats at a
sauna, where some high level officials were cavorting with
"girls."

BAKIYEV IN PARLIAMENT
--------------


7. (U) On September 14, the whole cabinet and the heads of
presidential offices attended the Parliamentary session
devoted to Tekebayev's case. President Bakiyev appeared
before the deputies, saying he wanted to discuss the current
situation. He detailed actions taken to investigate the
incident, and he promised full support to the investigations
by both the state and parliamentary commissions. He pledged
that constitutional reform (which appeared to be on a
back-burner) would now go forward quickly, with hearings on
the draft constitutions to begin soon in Parliament. He
vigorously defended his family members, saying that they had
gotten their government jobs based on merit. He noted that
in many countries there were examples of relatives occupying
high positions.


8. (U) Asked why the National Security Council was not
involved in the investigation, Bakiyev said that was because
Security Council Secretary Gen. Miroslav Niyazov was on
leave. He then disclosed that Niyazov would be moving to a
different (unspecified) position once he returned from leave.
Bakiyev commented that if he had been Niyazov, he would have
come back from vacation under these circumstances.
Parliament then questioned current Chief of Staff Abdyldayev
about the case. The session devoted to the case will
continue September 15, with the possible vote on a (now
watered-down) resolution censuring the government.

COMMENT
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9. (C) Matryoshkagate has shifted the political landscape,
though we are not sure what the ultimate fall-out will be.
Parliament is clearly emboldened by the scandal, challenging
the President and other members of the government. The SNB
has seen a shake-up, at least at the top. President Bakiyev
has been put on the defensive. The opposition is
invigorated. And Tekebayev has been politically resurrected,
from an outcast following his dismissal as Speaker to a
national hero now. We think Tekebayev had a purpose in

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coming the reception and staying so long, and that was to
gauge his standing with the international community, and with
us, in particular. The GOKG officials at the event,
including Deputy Foreign Minister Sarbayev, Deputy Defense
Minister Oruzbayev, and others, immediately flocked to him
when he arrived, eager to hear his story. As one guest
observed, everyone wants to be in the opposition now. In any
event, all eyes will be on the Parliament -- and on the
opposition "Kurultai" at the weekend. END COMMENT.
YOVANOVITCH