Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK1337
2007-11-01 11:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

KYRGYZ INVESTIGATION INTO SAIPOV KILLING CONTINUES

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001337 

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DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ INVESTIGATION INTO SAIPOV KILLING CONTINUES

REF: A. BISHKEK 1320

B. TASHKENT 1896

BISHKEK 00001337 001.2 OF 003


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001337

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DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ INVESTIGATION INTO SAIPOV KILLING CONTINUES

REF: A. BISHKEK 1320

B. TASHKENT 1896

BISHKEK 00001337 001.2 OF 003


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Kyrgyz law enforcement investigation
continues into the October 24 killing of journalist Alisher
Saipov. The two most popular theories place blame either on
the Uzbek security services or on Islamic extremist
organizations Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) or the Islamic Movement of
Uzbekistan (IMU). The Kyrgyz Ministry of Interior's (MVD)
official line is that it is pursuing all theories, but MVD
officers appear to be leaking information about the
investigation purporting to tie Saipov to extremist Islamic
organizations. GKNB Chairman Sutalinov told the Ambassador
that Saipov had a large number of IMU and HT contacts in his
computer files, and investigators were focusing on these
connections. Kyrgyz police and security service personnel
are also reportedly pulling in journalists in the Osh area
for questioning and threatening some with criminal
prosecution over their press coverage of the murder. END
SUMMARY.

Journalists Demand Greater Protection
--------------


2. (SBU) Kyrgyz journalists and civil society leaders
continue to point the finger at the Uzbek security services,
and Saipov's murder has prompted calls for greater protection
for journalists. Over 100 journalists and human rights
activists demonstrated in front of MVD headquarters in
Bishkek October 26, demanding a swift and transparent
investigation into Saipov's murder. Later that day at a
roundtable discussion, journalists and activists spoke about
the risks taken by human rights defenders. Most speculated
that the Uzbek security services were behind Saipov's murder,
and they decried the lack of protection by Kyrgyz authorities
against threats posed by Uzbek security services operating
within Kyrgyzstan.


3. (SBU) During another civil society forum October 31,
journalists and activists raised concerns about recent
beatings of journalists and the assassination of Saipov, and

they complained that harassment of civil society and the
press has increased beyond that seen during the Akayev years.
One presenter claimed that every journalist in Osh Oblast
had a "kurator" in the security services who regularly
inquires about journalists' contacts. The forum drafted a
petition to President Bakiyev demanding greater protection
for journalists and activists.

Suspicion about U.S. Support
--------------


4. (C) GKNB Chairman Murat Sutalinov told the Ambassador
October 30 that investigators had found a large number of HT
and IMU contacts listed in Saipov's computer. Sutalinov said
that MVD investigators were now focusing their attention on
these connections.


5. (C) On October 31, Deputy Foreign Minister Taalay Kydyrov
raised Saipov's alleged connections to these extremist
organizations and asked the Ambassador whether it was true
that the U.S. government had been funding him. (Note:
Saipov's Valley Media Group received a grant of $26,500 in
2007 from the National Endowment for Democracy to support the
Uzbek-language newspaper Siyosat. End Note.) Kydyrov said
that U.S. support for Saipov was the sort of thing that
created suspicion among some in the Kyrgyz government about
U.S. intentions in the country, and it had fueled concerns
over U.S. democracy programs generally.

MVD: Following All Leads
--------------

BISHKEK 00001337 002.2 OF 003




6. (C) The MVD's official line is that it is continuing to
investigate all theories, and MVD has released very little
official information about the case. Press reports citing
unnamed MVD officials claimed that the police had
"established who killed Saipov" and begun a nationwide
manhunt, and that MVD had linked the "three suspects" to HT.
Similar reports from AKIpress stated that ballistics experts
matched the 9mm bullet casings found at the scene of the
shooting with those found at other crime scenes. Reuters
quoted MVD spokesman Bakyt Seyitov acknowledging "the
possibility of involvement of Uzbek security services"
because of Saipov's criticism of Karimov, but Interfax cited
Osh MVD official, Zamir Sadykov, as saying "there is no proof
or reason to believe that Uzbekistan's secret services were
involved." MVD's press office told us that any comments
alleging Uzbek government, HT, or IMU involvement, were
merely "personal views" and "not the official line of the
MVD."

MVD Leaks to Press Tie Saipov to Extremists
--------------


7. (C) Despite the official line, MVD officers appear to be
leaking selective information about the investigation,
including information about Saipov's alleged ties to Islamic
extremist organizations such as HT and the IMU, as well as
information about Saipov's political activities. An October
31 AKIpress article quoted unnamed MVD officials alleging
that Saipov received funding from Islamic extremist groups
and from the Uzbek opposition party Erk. According to the
article, leaders of HT admitted to having close ties with
Saipov and "being interviewed by him about activities of the
party." The article also said that Saipov had harbored the
alleged leader of Andijon events, Kabul Parpiev, in his home
and had helped him escape to Kazakhstan.


8. (C) Police reportedly searched Saipov's office and
apartment and found anti-Karimov leaflets, HT brochures and
files on his computer, and Uzbek opposition newspapers.
According to investigators, ethnic Uzbek/UK national
journalist Shahida Tulaganova delivered anti-Karimov
leaflets, large sums of money, and other Erk party materials
on several occasions to Saipov in Osh. Officials stated that
these items were sent by exiled Erk party leader Muhammad
Solikh. (Note: Tulaganova told us that she had, in fact,
delivered a bag of Erk party materials to Saipov, and she
acknowledged this to MVD investigators when they questioned
her. End Note.) Investigators sealed off Saipov's office
and confiscated computers and mobile phones.


9. (SBU) Journalists and civil society leaders expressed fear
that Saipov's list of contacts would be passed by Kyrgyz
authorities to their Uzbek counterparts. Other press
reports, including the ferghana.ru website, accused the
Kyrgyz government of trying to smear Saipov by linking him to
extremist organizations.

Investigators Question Journalists
--------------


10. (C) In Osh, Kyrgyz police and security service personnel
are reportedly questioning journalists in connection with
Saipov's murder. The manager of the Osh Media Resource
Center (MRC),Maksuda Aitiyeva, contacted the Embassy October
30 to request legal assistance for journalists set to be
questioned by the Kyrgyz authorities. Aitiyeva said that a
large portion of the MRC's 205 registered journalists were
being called in for questioning by the MVD and GKNB. Those
already questioned had complained of rude and intimidating
treatment, and investigators reportedly threatened to arrest
the MRC office manager for sharing information about Saipov
to unauthorized persons. MVD officials also reportedly
threatened to prosecute staff of Mezon TV, a local station in

BISHKEK 00001337 003.2 OF 003


Osh, for airing a commemoration show about Saipov. (Note:
In partnership with the OSCE Center in Bishkek, the Embassy
immediately provided a grant to the MRC to hire a lawyer to
conduct trainings for journalists to explain their rights
under questioning as well as legal advice about for what they
could be prosecuted for reporting under Kyrgyz law. End
Note.)

Comment
--------------


11. (C) Senior Kyrgyz officials have been relatively quiet
about Saipov's murder. Aside from rude comments from State
Secretary Madumarov (amounting to "journalists are shot in

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many countries; why all the fuss?"),and Ombudsman Bakir uluu
(who said that Saipov may have been killed by the security
services of another country),other officials haven't
commented publicly. While the press is filled with stories
(and sometimes wild speculation) about the case, the official
government news agency, Kabar, has put out only one article.


12. (C) Saipov's murder has alarmed journalists and civil
society activists, who fear for their own safety. It is an
open secret that the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border is easily crossed in
many places, and GKNB Chairman Sutalinov openly acknowledged
this to Ambassador. Many activists suspect that Uzbek
security services have previously carried out operations on
the Kyrgyz side of the border (with or without the
cooperation of Kyrgyz officials),but Saipov's murder has
brought these concerns out in the open. Saipov had
connections to extremist groups (he openly reported on these
groups),but the MVD leaks and Sutalinov's comments seem
designed to paint a more sinister connection. It is not
clear, at this point, where the investigation ultimately will
lead. However, with an already difficult relationship
between the two countries, sensitive elections in December in
both countries, and upcoming gas negotiations, there is
concern that a political decision not to rock the boat will
lead to a manufactured result. And, Kydyrov's comments make
clear that the Kyrgyz government could use the case as a
reason to push for greater scrutiny of U.S. democracy
programming.
YOVANOVITCH