(S) KYRGYZ PM ATAMBAYEV ALLEGES HE WAS POISONED

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000584

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR KG
SUBJECT: (S) KYRGYZ PM ATAMBAYEV ALLEGES HE WAS POISONED

REF: BISHKEK 555

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Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (S) SUMMARY. On May 17, Ambassador met with Prime
Minister Atambayev, who claimed he was poisoned on May 11.
He fingered a number of possible culprits, but former PM
Kulov was at the top of the list. Atambayev had visibly lost
weight, was slurring his words and did not have his usual
energy, but he did not accept the Ambassador's offer of U.S.
medical help. The PM said that the poisoning would not deter
him, and he would ensure that "democratic reforms are
irreversible." Atambayev discussed a number of other issues,
including the base. Although Ambassador explained that there
is not a connection, Atambayev said that the Kyrgyz desire
for increased base compensation could be dropped if
Kyrgyzstan receives assistance through the Millenium
Challenge Corporation. END SUMMARY.

ATAMBAYEV ALLEGES HE WAS POISONED
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2. (S) On May 17, Ambassador met with Prime Minister
Atambayev, who claimed he was poisoned on May 11 at the White
House. Atambayev said he had just concluded a meeting with
President Bakiyev and Presidential Chief of Staff Sadyrkulov,
when he returned to his office and drank a glass of juice.
He said he knew immediately that he had been poisoned and
would lose consciousness soon. Atambayev requested his body
guards take him home immediately, and he claims he was
unconscious for two days and is only now able to drink a
little tea. He says that doctors are cleansing his blood
twice a day.


3. (S) Atambayev was slurring words and had visibly lost
weight although this was a trend we had already observed on
May 3, the last time we saw him. His face was puffy, but not
pale. He often closed his eyes and leaned back against the
high back of his chair for support. Ambassador asked
whether there was something the USG could do, for example,
tests we could perform or medical assistance we could
provide. Atambayev said no; he was convinced this was a
"Russian" poison, meant to intimidate not kill. He alleged
that he had called in the FSB to complain and told them that
they should not be abetting actions against him as he is a
"pro-Russian prime minister."

KULOV MOST LIKELY CULPRIT, ACCORDING TO PM
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4. (S) Atambayev said that he was clearly "really bothering
someone." He pointed the finger at former Prime Minister
Kulov as someone who had the motivation and the means. The
staff in the PM's kitchen are the same people that worked for
Kulov, he said and noted that there would be a housecleaning
soon. Atambayev also suggested that those who lost out in
the cancellation of the Krystall privatization or those who
have been fired by Atambayev and lost their "money flow"
could be behind this. He also said that President
Nazarbayev's son-in-law might have ordered the poisoning, but
did not offer a reason why.

ATAMBAYEV WANTS TO ENSURE REFORMS ARE IRREVERSIBLE
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5. (S) Atambayev said that the poisoning would not deter
him. He said he was not afraid, and he would press on and
ensure that "democratic reforms are irreversible." He did
not directly answer the Ambassador's question regarding

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Bakiyev's reaction, but noted that,"It would be very bad for
the President, if I were to die." He said that Sadyrkulov
was visibly upset when he heard the news.

EARTHQUAKE ASSISTANCE, NTS, AND AKAYEVA
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6. (C) Despite this startling news, Atambayev talked to the
Ambassador for approximately 45 minutes. He once again
requested significant assistance for earthquake victims in
Kochgar and Batken. He also requested the U.S. to purchase
NTS and produce Russian news programming, so there would be
an independent news source in Kyrgyzstan. Ambassador raised
the issue of former first daughter and erstwhile
parliamentary candidate Bermet Akayeva's house arrest.
Atambayev said the Akayevs were "reaping what they had sowed"
and listed the many injustices visited upon himself by former
President Akayev. He, nevertheless, agreed to look into the
issue, at Ambassador's urging.

MANAS BASE: POLITICAL LIABILITY TO KYRGYZ POLITICIANS
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Ambassador reviewed the upcoming U.S. visits, and
Atambayev agreed to meet all our visitors. She also
described the USG plan to build support for the base,
including with the orientation brief and flight at the base
on May 19 and a later trip to Afghanistan for high level
policy makers. Previously, the PM had been excited about the
May 19 base trip; this time, he noted that as a politician,
he could not go out to the base. The people would not
understand it, and he would be severely criticized, he said.
Atambayev agreed to send his security and defense advisor on
the Afghanistan trip.


8. (C) Ambassador noted to Atambayev that with the upcoming
parliamentary hearings, it is important for Kyrgyz leaders to
counter Russian media and stand up for the base, as Coalition
pressure on terrorists in Afghanistan has proved to be
Kyrgyzstan's most effective defense against terrorist
incursions. Atambayev agreed that the base is vital for
Kyrgyzstan. He, once again, told the Ambassador it is vital
that the base incidents be brought to closure. He also
suggested that the way to solve the base public relations
problems is to move the base to a more remote location,
perhaps to Batken. Ambassador dismissed this idea as
unpractical and said that together, the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan,
have to change the image of the base.

INCREASED BASE COMPENSATION OR MCA THRESHOLD PROGRAM
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9. (C) Ambassador said she was disturbed that informally
she had been approached by government officials regarding
increased base compensation. She pointed out that the U.S.
had just negotiated a compensation package with the Kyrygz
last summer and provided the PM with a copy of the protocol
where it clearly indicates that the Kyrgyz cannot request
additional compensation for five years. Atambayev said that
the Kyrgyz desire for increased base compensation could be
dropped if Kyrgyzstan receives assistance through the
Millenium Challenge Corporation. Ambassador explained that
there is not a connection, to which Atambayev suggested the
U.S. provide other additional assistance to the GOKG.
(COMMENT: The MFA informed us that the drive for increased
base compensation is a direct order from Atambayev, and it is
clear that he is looking for increased funding for the GOKG,
one way or another. END COMMENT)

COMMENT:

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10. (S) It is hard to know what to make of the alleged
poisoning. Atambayev did not look good, was obviously
feeling poorly, and was slurring his speech. We are not
doctors, however, and he did not agree to U.S. medical
assistance when offered, probably because of the likely
political repercussions.


11. (S) Atambayev has a lot of enemies, so his claim could
be true; Atambayev is also a dramatic and emotional
individual, so it is conceivable that a tummyache became
something much bigger. What was clear is that Atambayev
wanted the Ambassador to believe the allegation, and it is
most likely that he himself believes it as well. We will try
to quietly determine whether Atambayev's allegation is, in
fact, true, as this would take Kyrgyz politics into
unchartered territory.
YOVANOVITCH