Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK258
2007-03-13 10:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

KYRGYZ MP BAIBOLOV URGES GREATER EFFORTS ON

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM KG 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000258 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ MP BAIBOLOV URGES GREATER EFFORTS ON
DEMOCRACY PROMOTION


BISHKEK 00000258 001.2 OF 002


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000258

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ MP BAIBOLOV URGES GREATER EFFORTS ON
DEMOCRACY PROMOTION


BISHKEK 00000258 001.2 OF 002


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: On February 28, the Ambassador met with
opposition Member of Parliament Kubatbek Baibolov to discuss
the current political situation, Kyrgyzstan's leadership, and
the new constitution. Baibolov harshly criticized President
Bakiyev and his administration, saying they lacked the will
to continue political and legal reforms and accusing them of
criminalizing the political process by using "bandit" methods
to force the adoption of the new constitution. Baibolov also
urged the U.S. to be more assertive in its efforts to support
democratic reforms in Kyrgyzstan. End summary.

CRITICAL OF BAKIYEV . . .
--------------


2. (C) On February 28, the Ambassador met with Kubatbek
Baibolov, Member of Parliament and supporter of the newly
formed opposition group "United Front," to discuss the
current state of political affairs in Kyrgyzstan. Baibolov
expressed strong frustration with current presidential
policies. He charged that President Bakiyev and his advisors
lack the political will to make political or legal reforms,
and he complained that there was no transparency or
accountability in the actions of the President or his
administration. Contrasting Bakiyev to former President
Akayev, Baibolov said that Bakiyev generally ignored
criticism from international organizations or Western
countries, while Akayev had at least considered the concerns
and comments of the international community.


3. (C) Baibolov condemned the December 30 adoption of a new
constitution, charging that it was the result of illegal
"bandit" efforts to adopt the supreme law of the land at any
costs. Baibolov claimed members of the Jogorku Kenesh
(parliament) were forced to vote for the new constitution and
were physically carried to the voting stations. He described
the voting process as equally illegal since the document was
submitted for a vote five times in a row, violating the
institutional procedures of the parliament.

AND CRITICAL OF THE USG

--------------


4. (C) Baibolov also expressed dissatisfaction with the work
of the U.S. government in Kyrgyzstan. He claimed that the
U.S. government did not act consistently in support of
democratic reforms. Baibolov specifically mentioned the lack
of any comment from the U.S. in response to the adoption of
the constitution via illegal means. He claimed that U.S.
interests in Kyrgyzstan were limited only to keeping the
military air base. He implied that since the U.S. needs the
base here, the U.S. government would be less likely to make
uncomfortable comments about the President's actions and
would be more likely to close its eyes to obvious violations
of law.


5. (C) The Ambassador responded that the U.S. government
continues to push for democratic reforms and remains
committed to the Kyrgyz Republic. She described the many
programs and events supported by the U.S. that emphasize the
value of the rule of law and democratic reforms. She said
that the Embassy continues to underline the importance of
transparency, economic reform and rule of law at every
opportunity, including in an upcoming Op-Ed to mark the
anniversary of the March 24, 2005 "tulip revolution."
Regarding the constitution and the manner in which it was
adopted, she noted the government had used the same tactics

BISHKEK 00000258 002.2 OF 002


the opposition (including Baibolov) had used in November when
the first "new" constitution was adopted. The Ambassador
commented that while the U.S. Embassy can help support
democratic reforms in Kyrgyzstan, the people of Kyrgyzstan,
members of the parliament, and Kyrgyz government officials
had the responsibility to take the initiative to advance
democratic reforms themselves.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) Baibolov, a former KGB General who made a fortune in
the immediate aftermath of the break-up of the Soviet Union,
has now joined former PM Kulov's "United Front" opposition
movement. Baibolov kept a low profile as a parliamentarian
during the latter part of the Akayev era, and for the first
few months of the Bakiyev administration, Baibolov worked
with the government, even leading a presidential task force
charged with developing a program for law enforcement reform.
He then moved into opposition, supporting the opposition's
public rallies in April, May, and November 2006. He has been
public in his criticisms, charging that the government has
pursued "economic persecution" and "criminal prosecution" for
political ends. His own (extensive) business interests have
suffered as a result, and there is a degree of self-interest
in his new-found inclination towards reform. Nevertheless,
he clearly is frustrated with the lack of reform under
Bakiyev, and he believes that Bakiyev has (among other
mistakes) taken a dangerous path in using extralegal methods
to adopt a new constitution.
YOVANOVITCH