KYRGYZ INVESTIGATE APRIL EVENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000560 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ INVESTIGATE APRIL EVENTS REF: A. BISHKEK 549 ¶B. BISHKEK 492 BISHKEK 00000560 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: United Front leader Omurbek Suvanaliyev is due in court this week to face claims for damage caused during the April protests in Bishkek. Former Prime Minister Kulov, in a conversation with the Ambassador, absolved himself of any mistakes or responsibility for the April events. Kyrgyz State Security Service personnel are seeking a United Front youth leader and have extended "invitations" to opposition parliamentarians to discuss the April protests. We will continue to encourage the government to be magnanimous and inclusive. End summary. SUVANALIYEV IN THE SPOTLIGHT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) United Front leader Omurbek Suvanaliyev, who was released from State Security Service (GKNB) custody April 27, will appear before a Bishkek court May 16 to answer for $100,000 in damages incurred during the April 11-19 United Front-led demonstrations. The Bishkek Mayor's office, which filed the suit together with the Pervomay District administration, included the salaries of the police officers who provided security during the rally in the damage claim. Opposition MP Melis Eshimkanov vowed to defend Suvanaliyev in court, and called for the authorities to clarify who should be blamed for the damage -- the opposition or pro-government "provocateurs." Eshimkanov also asked why Suvanaliyev was summoned, and not Felix Kulov, opposition MP Omurbek Tekebayev, or himself. Later, Eshimkanov announced that he was selling his opposition newspaper "Agym" due to government pressure against him and his relatives. KULOV SITS ON THE SIDELINES -------------- ¶3. (C) On May 11, Ambassador met with an unbending Felix Kulov, who deflected blame for any mistakes that occurred during the April demonstration. He said that he was not responsible for the rally or the manner in which it ended, proudly claiming that he was simply following others. Kulov added that the demonstration was peaceful, and that President Bakiyev lost because he used force to break up the demonstrators. He also disavowed any responsibility for organizing the May 5 "kurultay" in his hometown, or the list of demands produced following that gathering. Kulov said that he supported the decisions that others made, rather than formulating those decisions himself. ¶4. (C) Kulov said repeatedly that he was not ambitious, and did not want a position within the government. He added that in the immediate future he will go on vacation, and focus on politics upon his return. Meanwhile, his supporters are consolidating their forces, vowing to collect 300,000 signatures to force Bakiyev out of office (reftel A). (Note: It is rumored that Kulov now has controlling authority over Pyramida TV and may be attempting to purchase other media outlets as well, possibly increasing the United Front's reach. End Note.) Kulov added that he would not stop opposition supporters from removing Bakiyev by force if the president chooses not to step down voluntarily. The Ambassador said that such a scenario is unrealistic, but Kulov disagreed, stating that Bakiyev came to power under similar circumstances. He also said that the "mood of the people" dictated the opposition's actions, and that he was powerless to stop the possibility of a violent take-over -- a notion the Ambassador insisted was irresponsible. YOUTH LEADER IN HIDING BISHKEK 00000560 002.2 OF 002 -------------- ¶5. (C) Responding to appeals for assistance, poloff met the mother of United Front Youth Wing member Jalyn Mamatkaziyev May 15, and learned that Mamatkaziyev, who is wanted by the GKNB, had fled to Almaty and may seek asylum from Canadian authorities. (Note: Another youth wing leader, Adilet Aitikeev, was detained by the GKNB for four days, together with United Front leaders Omurbek Abdrahmanov and Omurbek Suvanaliyev. See reftel B. End note.) She claimed that her son had done nothing wrong during the April demonstrations, and did not understand why law enforcement authorities would not leave her family alone. She said that she plans to visit her son in Almaty this week, and would ask Jalyn to solicit UNHCR's assistance. She gave Poloff a May 11 copy of "Megopolis" newspaper -- a pro-government newspaper that is not widely distributed -- which included a want-ad with reward information from the GKNB for her son. Meanwhile, several opposition MPs have reportedly been "invited" to visit the GKNB at their earliest convenience. According to media accounts, at least one MP has met with GKNB officials in his parliamentary office. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) The opposition has not yet publicly protested the government's continued harassment of opposition supporters. However, the government's continued push to investigate the April events recalls government actions following the November demonstrations and could agitate the waters. We will continue to take the pulse of both sides, and encourage government officials to be magnanimous and inclusive in victory. YOVANOVITCH