KYRGYZ PEDESTRIAN DEATH FOCUSES ATTENTION ON U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000528

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR CASC KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PEDESTRIAN DEATH FOCUSES ATTENTION ON U.S.
AIR BASE

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Classified By: Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Late on May 7, a Kyrgyz pedestrian was
struck and killed by a Kyrgyz automobile in a hit-and-run
accident near Manas airport. A car carrying an Amcit
contractor at the U.S. air base was also damaged apparently
when the pedestrian's body hit the vehicle after being struck
by the Kyrgyz vehicle. According to the Amcit and his Kyrgyz
wife (the driver),the Amcit stopped to render CPR while the
Kyrgyz vehicle, as well as another Kyrgyz vehicle traveling
in convoy, sped off. The Amcit and his wife are being
questioned by Ministry of Interior (MVD) officials in the
presence of Embassy and base personnel. Initial media
accounts blamed a U.S. military serviceman for the death.
The Prosecutor General opened a criminal investigation into
the incident, but assured the Ambassador that he would
prevent any political overtones from developing from the
case. MVD officials may be attempting to steer the
investigation to focus only on the Amcit vehicle, and find
the driver guilty of manslaughter. Later Kyrgyz media
accounts placed the Amcit's Kyrgyz wife behind the wheel, but
not before Russian media began reporting the initial,
incorrect version of the incident, claiming a U.S. serviceman
had run over and killed a Kyrgyz citizen. End summary.

Facts of the Matter
--------------


2. (SBU) At approximately 23:40 on May 7, a Kyrgyz
pedestrian (identified in the media as Zarylbek Askarbekov)
was struck and killed on the main road leading from Manas
airport to Bishkek. According to available information,
Jason Friend (Amcit: please protect),his U.S. legal resident
wife Olga Kolko, their child and her mother were traveling
towards Bishkek when Askarbekov's body struck their vehicle
after Askarbekov was hit by one of two other passing
vehicles. Kolko, who was driving, stopped and her husband
attempted CPR on Askarbekov for about eight minutes. (Note:
Friend is a civilian contractor employed at the U.S. Manas
air base. End note.) After onlookers arrived, they accused
Friend of killing the Kyrgyz, and Friend and his family left
the scene and traveled to Bishkek.


3. (SBU) Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI)
personnel contacted the Manas Village Ministry of Interior
(MVD) Chief Telek about the incident. Subsequently, Friend
and Kolko reported to a Bishkek clinic for a blood alcohol
test, which they both passed. Later, Friend and Kolko
traveled to the Manas MVD office for questioning in the
presence of an Embassy ARSO, FSN and OSI representative.

Kyrgyz Authorities Act
--------------


4. (C) According to feedback from the U.S. observers, the
preliminary investigation validated Friend's account of the
incident. However, upon briefing more senior personnel, the
MVD's Telek reported that the investigation had been halted
and that the Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's office wanted to
file a formal criminal investigation. (Note: The Prosecutor
General later told the Ambassador this investigation is not
directed at any specific individual. End note.) By this
point, neither Friend nor Kolko had made an official
statement. Kyrgyz Lt Col Moldaliev, who was chief
investigator of the Hatfield shooting, has been assigned to
lead this case. The vehicle driven by Kolko (which actually

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is registered to another individual) has been seized as
evidence. The investigation was transferred from Manas
village to regional Sokuluk district authorities. MVD
officials are now questioning Friend and Kolko in separate
rooms. An Embassy employee overheard two senior MVD
officials state that they wanted the investigation to focus
on just one vehicle being involved in the accident, and that
the autopsy report and police investigation report should
both conclude that the victim was struck by only one car )
that driven by Kolko.

Embassy/Base Response
--------------


5. (C) After an initial telephone conversation, the
Ambassador met Prosecutor General Elmurza Satybaldiev to
discuss the case. Satybaldiev noted the Ambassador's concern
that media accounts and leaks had developed a political
overtone. He promised to prevent any political overtones,
and repeated that a criminal investigation is being launched
into the accident, and not against Friend. Satybaldiev noted
that Friend was a passenger and "there is no law against this
in Kyrgyzstan." However, he said Friend would be questioned,
and wondered why Kolko, and not Friend, was behind the wheel.


6. (C) The Ambassador also contacted Foreign Minister
Karabayev, National Security Council Secretary Mamytov and
Presidential Chief of Staff Sadyrkulov to discuss the
incident. Karabayev complained that "he was upset with yet
another base incident taking place," and Mamytov urged the
base to cooperate fully with the investigation. All the
comments revealed a rapid rush to judgment ascribing guilt to
the U.S. party. Karabeyev and Mamytov also questioned the
relationship between Friend and Kolko. Minister of Interior
Nogoibayev has been unavailable. Earlier in the day, the MFA
advised the Embassy to prepare a press statement. Embassy
has provided input into guidance base public affairs
personnel have drafted. (Current draft will be e-mailed to
PPD.)

Press Begin Reporting
--------------


7. (U) Initial press accounts reported that "an American
military serviceman" killed a Kyrgyz citizen. Media reports
identified the pedestrian as 50 year-old Zarylbek Askarbekov,
who worked as a driver at Manas airport. Relatives
reportedly took Askarbaekov's body home before investigators
arrived on the scene.


8. (U) Subsequent Kyrgyz media accounts clarified that the
American was not behind the wheel, and identified his wife
(Kolko) as the driver. Sokuluk police station official
Mirlan Termechikov informed the media that Friend was
cooperating with the investigation. Russian media has picked
up the story, reporting the initial incorrect version that a
U.S. serviceman had killed a Kyrgyz citizen.


9. (U) Embassy has fielded numerous calls, including from
representatives of AP and Reuters. Inquiries have been
forwarded to the base public affairs office.

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


10. (C) Initial media accounts of the incident immediately

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blaming U.S. military forces for the death of a Kyrgyz
citizen make it painfully clear what a fragile political
environment the base operates in, and how quickly any
incident, however tenuously connected to the base, can be
twisted out of all proportion. While the facts may become
apparent as the investigation continues, and some subsequent
press reporting has been more accurate than the initial
accounts, indications that the Kyrgyz police may manufacture
a case against the U.S. contractor's wife are alarming.
Embassy will continue to work with the base and Kyrgyz
officials to press for a fair investigation and factual
reporting. Wednesday is a local holiday commemorating the
end of World War II. Embassy will continue to monitor
coverage and developments.

YOVANOVITCH