BISHKEK EAC MEETING ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001621

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/IP/SPC - WEINBERG
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/IP/NEA/SA - GALLO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2016
TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV PINR PREL KG
SUBJECT: BISHKEK EAC MEETING ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN
ABDUCTION INVESTIGATION

REF: BISHKEK 1602

Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired an EAC meeting late on
November 16. In attendance were AMB, DCM, POL/ECON, POL/RA,
MSG, PAS, MGT, DAO, SAO, CONS, USAID, MED, RLS, and RSO.
Peace Corps and CLO were subsequently briefed by DCM.


2. (C) Ambassador said that the meeting was called to discuss
new developments in the investigation of the
abduction/car-jacking of Gulnura Abduldayeva, the spouse of
USAID Country Director Clifford Brown, in Bishkek on November

11. Ambassador said that because this information concerned
an ongoing criminal investigation, the details were not to be
shared outside of the EAC.


3. (C) DCM summarized the new developments in the case. At
09:50 November 16, the stolen vehicle, a Nissan Pathfinder,
was found in Osh, in southern Kyrgyzstan. The vehicle was
dropped off in front of the building housing the USAID office
in Osh. Three men exited the vehicle and were driven away in
a waiting large Mercedes. The driver of the Mercedes
appeared to be a local customs official. The Pathfinder no
longer had diplomatic, but instead had Kyrgyz Government
plates indicating a member of parliament.


3. (C) The DCM told the EAC that the American head of the
USAID office in Osh let employees go home early for the day.
Following consultations with RSO, he advised USAID employees
in Osh to stay home on November 17, as well.


4. (C) The DCM told the EAC that it may be a coincidence that
the stolen car was recovered in the parking lot of the
building where USAID has its offices. The parliamentary
license plates have been seen on other vehicles parked there,
and the MVD suspects that a car smuggling operation is being
run out of the first floor of the building (USAID offices are
on the third floor). An MVD team has the vehicle under
surveillance, waiting for someone to come to retrieve the
license plates.


5. (C) DCM told the EAC that Embassy Astana Legatt
interviewed Clifford Brown and Gulnura Abduldayeva in Almaty
(Brown and Abduldayeva intend to remain outside of Kyrgyzstan
for the near term),and Legatt will travel to Bishkek
November 17. Legatt and RSO will travel to Osh on November
17 to consult with MVD investigators. RSO will also review
the security of the USAID office in Osh. Legatt has arranged
for a U.S.-based forensics team to be on stand-by to travel
to Kyrgyzstan to examine the vehicle.


6. (C) Ambassador raised concerns about the security of the
USAID office in Osh, whether the stolen vehicle was left
there deliberately because of the USAID office or there is a
car smuggling operation in the same building. RSO and Legatt
will assess the situation on the ground on November 17.


7. (C) Ambassador said that she and RSO had met with Interior
Minister Suvanaliyev on November 13, and he had pledged a
full investigation and had arranged for full-time MVD
presence at the Bishkek apartment building where Brown and
Abduldayeva reside (four other embassy personnel live in the
same building). Ambassador also met with Deputy Head of the
Presidential Administration to express concern over the
abduction and car-jacking. The Embassy has sent a diplomatic
note to the MFA asking for a full investigation.


8. (C) RLA suggested that another diplomatic note be sent,
advising the Kyrgyz Government that the Legatt would be
arriving November 17 to consult with the MVD. RSO will
accompany Legatt to all meetings with MVD. The diplomatic
note will be sent to the MFA November 17, with a copy faxed
to MVD.


9. (C) The RSO said that there was no change to the embassy's
already high security posture. He urged that Embassy staff
continue to exercise prudent security measures and to
maintain situational awareness. CONS said that the new
developments in the case did not warrant sending a warden
message to the wider American community.


10. (SBU) RSO, DCM, and Ambassador will continue to monitor
developments in the case and will convene another EAC later

BISHKEK 00001621 002 OF 002


in the week, if deemed necessary.
YOVANOVITCH