KYRGYZ INTERIOR MINISTER APPOINTED SNB CHAIRMAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001428

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KCRM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ INTERIOR MINISTER APPOINTED SNB CHAIRMAN,
COMMENTS ON CURRENT CRIME SITUATION

Ref: A. Bishkek 1316


B. Bishkek 701

BISHKEK 00001428 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 6, Kyrgyzstan's Interior
Minister, Major-General Murat Sutalinov, was named to be the
new Chairman of the National Security Service (SNB).
Osmonaly Gurunov, Head of MVD's Department for Combating
Extremism and Illegal Migration, was named to be the new
Interior Minister. Two days prior to his new appointment,
Sutalinov gave a remarkable interview to a local newspaper,
in which he almost seemed to praise Kyrgyzstan's new crime
boss for bringing order to the criminal world, while at the
same time warning that the MVD was determined to fight crime
in all its manifestations, from organized crime to corrupt
officials. He said he thought the time of "unbridled"
criminal activity was over, and that the situation would be
improving. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On October 6, President Bakiyev appointed Interior
Minister Major-General Murat Sutalinov to be the new
Chairman of the SNB. He replaces Busurmankul Tabaldiyev,
who resigned as SNB Chair September 12 in the fall-out from
the "Matryoshkagate" scandal (Ref A). A career police
official, Sutalinov had been Interior Minister since May

2005. Bakiyev appointed Osmonaly Gurunov, Head of the
Department for Combating Extremism and Illegal Migration, as
the Acting Interior Minister, pending confirmation as
Minister by the Parliament.


3. (SBU) On October 4, two days prior to his new
appointment, Sutalinov gave a wide-ranging interview to
"Delo No." newspaper, in which he discussed the situation
with organized crime in the country following the
assassination last May of notorious mob boss (and
parliamentary candidate) Ryspek Akmatbayev (Ref B) and the
rise of a new criminal leader, Kamchy Kolbayev. Sutalinov
shared interesting insights into the hierarchy of the
criminal world. Ryspek, although a "reputable" criminal
figure, had not been given the honorary title of "Thief-in-
Law" (essentially, the "Don") by his fellow criminals, and
thus was not bound by the Mob's "Code." Sutalinov described
a phenomenon that he called "Ryspekophobia," in which
businessmen, who put up with Ryspek's racket for years, now
believe out of fear that they should "cooperate" with new
criminal leaders because they will provide "protection" to
businesses. Since it is practically impossible to run
business honestly in Kyrgyzstan, no businessman feels safe
without such protection.


4. (SBU) In contrast to Ryspek, new crime boss Kamchy
accepted the title of "Thief-in-Law" at a July meeting of
Kyrgyz criminals, and thus must abide by certain criminal
rules: he cannot participate in political activities; he
must ensure that criminals do not do anything outrageous,
such as attacking a law enforcement officer; and he can run
rackets only against those who violate laws themselves.
Sutalinov said that when the news about Kamchy's
"coronation" as Thief-in-Law came out, he predicted that the
situation in the criminal world would become more stable, as
the criminals themselves established "order within the
criminal world." Sutalinov noted (not without satisfaction)
that his prediction was coming true: within the last few
months, the number of contracted crimes in the Chui Valley
(surrounding Bishkek) had declined significantly, and he
expected the trend to continue.


5. (SBU) Despite Sutalinov's seemingly admiring attitude
toward the new order within the criminal world, he said the
MVD was determined to fight crime in all its manifestations
-- robbers, a thief-in-law and his people, corrupt
officials, or religious extremists. In the interview,

BISHKEK 00001428 002.2 OF 002


Sutalinov warned Kamchy and other criminals: "Know your
place, and do not bother law-abiding businessmen." He also
told law enforcement officers to get over their own
"Ryspekophobia," as there are no "untouchable" criminals any
more, and there are no criminals that enjoy protection from
high-level officials. Sutalinov called on businessmen to
respect law, not to cooperate with racketeers, and to report
racketeering attempts to police, or, if they do not have
confidence in the police, to the SNB or prosecutor's office.


6. (SBU) Sutalinov lamented that organized crime, in one
form or another, "exists in all countries." He noted that
even in "most powerful state -- the United States," many
prominent businessmen have criminal background, many trade
unions work under the mob's oversight, and the weapons and
drugs trade and trafficking in persons are "flourishing."
Thus, Sutalinov said, "it is impossible to win the battle
over the criminal world, but it is possible to force it to
live in its own cell, without interfering in the lives of
normal people." Sutalinov said he believes that the time of
unbridled crime is over and the crime situation will be
improving.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: The 43-year-old Sutalinov, by his words
and actions, has challenged conventional perceptions of how
government officials act. His observations about the
criminal situation are worth noting, however, as numerous
interlocutors tell us that criminal activity continues to be
a serious threat throughout the country. END COMMENT.