Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK480
2007-04-24 11:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
BISHKEK CALM, BUT ACCUSATIONS FLY OVER
VZCZCXRO4959 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHEK #0480/01 1141158 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 241158Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9447 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2113 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0202 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0214 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0693 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0502 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0209 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0370 RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2508 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1891 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000480
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: BISHKEK CALM, BUT ACCUSATIONS FLY OVER
DEMONSTRATION
REF: BISHKEK 454
BISHKEK 00000480 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000480
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: BISHKEK CALM, BUT ACCUSATIONS FLY OVER
DEMONSTRATION
REF: BISHKEK 454
BISHKEK 00000480 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The center of Bishkek has remained calm
since the anti-government demonstration ended abruptly the
night of April 19 (reftel),and demonstrators have not
returned to Ala-Too Square. The opposition and the
government have accused each other of provoking the
confrontation that led police to clear the square of
protesters, yurts, and tents. Police detained a number of
people for disorderly conduct, and the opposition claims that
more than 100 opposition supporters remain in custody. A
human rights NGO told us that, although 147 demonstrators
were arrested between April 12 and 19, all have been
released. The security services have reportedly detained
United Front leaders Omurbek Suvanaliyev and Omurbek
Abdrakhmanov for three days for questioning. Meanwhile,
parliamentary by-elections in two districts are set for April
29, with ex-President Akayev's daughter, Bermet, standing in
Kemin, although she faces legal challenges. In a positive
development, opposition newspaper Kyrgyz Rukhu re-appeared in
print on April 24, including articles that were to have been
published in the issue confiscated by security personnel on
April 20. END SUMMARY.
ALL RELATIVELY QUIET, DESPITE OPPOSITION ACCUSATIONS
-------------- --------------
2. (C) The abrupt end to the nine-day opposition
demonstrations in Bishkek on April 20 has brought about
little change in the capital, as the opposition and
government have settled back into their respective corners.
Opposition leaders Felix Kulov and MP Temir Sariyev have
accused the government of harassing their supporters and
detaining opposition members without cause. In an interview
conducted in his home village of Baitik on April 23, Kulov
claimed that the United Front was not to blame for the
attempted raid on the Kyrgyz White House, instead accusing an
"unknown" group of assailants that he had no control over.
Kulov also said that the opposition would continue peaceful
actions in support of their demands for reform, and would
maintain their appeal for the release of opposition leaders
Omurbek Suvanaliyev and Omurbek Abdarahmanov from government
custody. Separately, another United Front leader told
Azattyk news that over 100 opposition supporters have been
detained, claiming that more are taken in each day. Human
Rights NGO "Civic Society Against Corruption" told us that,
although 147 demonstrators were arrested, "beaten and
intimidated" between April 12 and 19 for "assembling without
authorization," they were all released.
3. (U) Newman Holding Company -- a local pharmaceutical
importer and distributor, owned by opposition MP Osmonbek
Artykbayev -- was raided by police on April 23, reportedly
sanctioned by Prosecutor General Elmurza Satibaldiyev and
Chief of the Bishkek City Police Molmodusa Kongantiyev. Law
enforcement officials claim that the company was under
suspicion of selling "contraband" pharmaceuticals.
Immediately following the incursion, several MPs -- including
Artykbayev, Sariyev, Urmanaliyev, and others -- protested the
raid. On April 24, Kongantiyev apologized publicly for their
actions, admitting that police officers acted "rudely" during
the raid.
RE-START THE PRESSES
--------------
4. (C) Kyrgyz language opposition newspaper Kyrgyz Rukhu
restarted publication April 24, including articles from the
confiscated April 20 edition. The Chief Editor of Agym --
BISHKEK 00000480 002.2 OF 003
the other Kyrgyz language opposition newspaper shut down by
law enforcement and security officers on April 20 -- appeared
on television April 23, criticizing the government for its
actions, and vowing to continue to be a source of
"contrarian" news. As of April 24, Agym had not re-apeared
in print, and we understand that Agym has decided to take a
break until May 5 to reconsider its strategy. Thus far, no
further actions have been taken against either newspaper.
5. (C) The Ambassador has continued to raise with government
officials our concerns about the raid on the printing press.
On April 23, she spoke with Minister of Justice Kaiypov, who
promised to "look into" the matter. An MFA official also
seemed surprised, disavowing any knowledge of the April 20
events. The Ambassador has requested a range of meetings
with government officials to deliver our points on freedom of
the press. However, government officials are currently
pre-occupied with the April 26-27 visit to Bishkek of Kazakh
President Nazarbayev, and substantive meetings are not likely
before April 30.
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FULL STEAM AHEAD?
--------------
6. (SBU) According to AKIpress, PM Almaz Atambayev's draft of
the constitution has been forwarded to the fully formed
Constitutional Court for further deliberation. According to
unconfirmed press reports, sources inside the White House
claim that the PM's working group has implemented certain
recommendations made by the opposition into the draft. While
no timeline has been set for the adoption of a new
constitution, the Court is obligated by law to render its
opinion within six months, with the draft then going to
parliament for further review.
BERMET AKAYEVA: IN THE RUNNING?
--------------
7. (U) Parliamentary by-elections are scheduled for April 29
in two districts. Bermet Akayeva, the daughter of
ex-President Askar Akayev, is possibly standing in Kemin, the
Akayevs' home district. Bermet received a positive court
ruling April 24, upholding her candidacy as a contender for
the April 29 parliamentary by-elections. However, the Kemin
district court issued another ruling against her by the
afternoon of April 24, putting her candidacy in question.
Akayeva's potential opponents had previously filed a lawsuit
against her, with accusations of bribery and a failure to
meet local residency requirements. (NOTE: Bermet Akayeva
has not been regularly resident in Kyrgyzstan since March
2005. END NOTE.) The Kemin district court initially
overruled those claims, following a thirteen-hour
deliberation that ran to 5:00 am April 24. During that time,
2,000 people reportedly demonstrated in front of the court,
charging that the court remained under pressure from
authorities.
COMMENT
--------------
8. (C) With the demonstrators off of Ala-Too Square, the
tension that was palpable last week has dropped, and Bishkek
seems relatively calm. We are confident, however, that
back-room negotiations involving the key players are still
going on. Publicly, each side continues to blame the other
for instigating the conflict that led to the swift clearing
of the square on April 19. It does appear that it was a
small group in the crowd that started throwing rocks and
sticks and attempted to rush the fence at the Kyrgyz White
House, but it is not clear whether these "provocateurs" were
opposition supporters or outsiders.
BISHKEK 00000480 003.2 OF 003
9. (C) We remain concerned about the April 20 raid on the
Media Support Center printing press, and we will continue to
highlight our concerns in government meetings. The
re-appearance of Kyrgyz Rukhu, however, is possibly a sign
that the Kyrgyz government realizes that it crossed the line
when security officials raided the printing press. Post
plans to host a May 3 Media Freedom Day reception at the
printing press, inviting journalists, government officials,
and pundits. We will see who from the government shows up.
YOVANOVITCH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG
SUBJECT: BISHKEK CALM, BUT ACCUSATIONS FLY OVER
DEMONSTRATION
REF: BISHKEK 454
BISHKEK 00000480 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The center of Bishkek has remained calm
since the anti-government demonstration ended abruptly the
night of April 19 (reftel),and demonstrators have not
returned to Ala-Too Square. The opposition and the
government have accused each other of provoking the
confrontation that led police to clear the square of
protesters, yurts, and tents. Police detained a number of
people for disorderly conduct, and the opposition claims that
more than 100 opposition supporters remain in custody. A
human rights NGO told us that, although 147 demonstrators
were arrested between April 12 and 19, all have been
released. The security services have reportedly detained
United Front leaders Omurbek Suvanaliyev and Omurbek
Abdrakhmanov for three days for questioning. Meanwhile,
parliamentary by-elections in two districts are set for April
29, with ex-President Akayev's daughter, Bermet, standing in
Kemin, although she faces legal challenges. In a positive
development, opposition newspaper Kyrgyz Rukhu re-appeared in
print on April 24, including articles that were to have been
published in the issue confiscated by security personnel on
April 20. END SUMMARY.
ALL RELATIVELY QUIET, DESPITE OPPOSITION ACCUSATIONS
-------------- --------------
2. (C) The abrupt end to the nine-day opposition
demonstrations in Bishkek on April 20 has brought about
little change in the capital, as the opposition and
government have settled back into their respective corners.
Opposition leaders Felix Kulov and MP Temir Sariyev have
accused the government of harassing their supporters and
detaining opposition members without cause. In an interview
conducted in his home village of Baitik on April 23, Kulov
claimed that the United Front was not to blame for the
attempted raid on the Kyrgyz White House, instead accusing an
"unknown" group of assailants that he had no control over.
Kulov also said that the opposition would continue peaceful
actions in support of their demands for reform, and would
maintain their appeal for the release of opposition leaders
Omurbek Suvanaliyev and Omurbek Abdarahmanov from government
custody. Separately, another United Front leader told
Azattyk news that over 100 opposition supporters have been
detained, claiming that more are taken in each day. Human
Rights NGO "Civic Society Against Corruption" told us that,
although 147 demonstrators were arrested, "beaten and
intimidated" between April 12 and 19 for "assembling without
authorization," they were all released.
3. (U) Newman Holding Company -- a local pharmaceutical
importer and distributor, owned by opposition MP Osmonbek
Artykbayev -- was raided by police on April 23, reportedly
sanctioned by Prosecutor General Elmurza Satibaldiyev and
Chief of the Bishkek City Police Molmodusa Kongantiyev. Law
enforcement officials claim that the company was under
suspicion of selling "contraband" pharmaceuticals.
Immediately following the incursion, several MPs -- including
Artykbayev, Sariyev, Urmanaliyev, and others -- protested the
raid. On April 24, Kongantiyev apologized publicly for their
actions, admitting that police officers acted "rudely" during
the raid.
RE-START THE PRESSES
--------------
4. (C) Kyrgyz language opposition newspaper Kyrgyz Rukhu
restarted publication April 24, including articles from the
confiscated April 20 edition. The Chief Editor of Agym --
BISHKEK 00000480 002.2 OF 003
the other Kyrgyz language opposition newspaper shut down by
law enforcement and security officers on April 20 -- appeared
on television April 23, criticizing the government for its
actions, and vowing to continue to be a source of
"contrarian" news. As of April 24, Agym had not re-apeared
in print, and we understand that Agym has decided to take a
break until May 5 to reconsider its strategy. Thus far, no
further actions have been taken against either newspaper.
5. (C) The Ambassador has continued to raise with government
officials our concerns about the raid on the printing press.
On April 23, she spoke with Minister of Justice Kaiypov, who
promised to "look into" the matter. An MFA official also
seemed surprised, disavowing any knowledge of the April 20
events. The Ambassador has requested a range of meetings
with government officials to deliver our points on freedom of
the press. However, government officials are currently
pre-occupied with the April 26-27 visit to Bishkek of Kazakh
President Nazarbayev, and substantive meetings are not likely
before April 30.
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FULL STEAM AHEAD?
--------------
6. (SBU) According to AKIpress, PM Almaz Atambayev's draft of
the constitution has been forwarded to the fully formed
Constitutional Court for further deliberation. According to
unconfirmed press reports, sources inside the White House
claim that the PM's working group has implemented certain
recommendations made by the opposition into the draft. While
no timeline has been set for the adoption of a new
constitution, the Court is obligated by law to render its
opinion within six months, with the draft then going to
parliament for further review.
BERMET AKAYEVA: IN THE RUNNING?
--------------
7. (U) Parliamentary by-elections are scheduled for April 29
in two districts. Bermet Akayeva, the daughter of
ex-President Askar Akayev, is possibly standing in Kemin, the
Akayevs' home district. Bermet received a positive court
ruling April 24, upholding her candidacy as a contender for
the April 29 parliamentary by-elections. However, the Kemin
district court issued another ruling against her by the
afternoon of April 24, putting her candidacy in question.
Akayeva's potential opponents had previously filed a lawsuit
against her, with accusations of bribery and a failure to
meet local residency requirements. (NOTE: Bermet Akayeva
has not been regularly resident in Kyrgyzstan since March
2005. END NOTE.) The Kemin district court initially
overruled those claims, following a thirteen-hour
deliberation that ran to 5:00 am April 24. During that time,
2,000 people reportedly demonstrated in front of the court,
charging that the court remained under pressure from
authorities.
COMMENT
--------------
8. (C) With the demonstrators off of Ala-Too Square, the
tension that was palpable last week has dropped, and Bishkek
seems relatively calm. We are confident, however, that
back-room negotiations involving the key players are still
going on. Publicly, each side continues to blame the other
for instigating the conflict that led to the swift clearing
of the square on April 19. It does appear that it was a
small group in the crowd that started throwing rocks and
sticks and attempted to rush the fence at the Kyrgyz White
House, but it is not clear whether these "provocateurs" were
opposition supporters or outsiders.
BISHKEK 00000480 003.2 OF 003
9. (C) We remain concerned about the April 20 raid on the
Media Support Center printing press, and we will continue to
highlight our concerns in government meetings. The
re-appearance of Kyrgyz Rukhu, however, is possibly a sign
that the Kyrgyz government realizes that it crossed the line
when security officials raided the printing press. Post
plans to host a May 3 Media Freedom Day reception at the
printing press, inviting journalists, government officials,
and pundits. We will see who from the government shows up.
YOVANOVITCH