Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK1017
2008-10-03 13:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ ELECTION BODY'S MISSING HEAD
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001017
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ ELECTION BODY'S MISSING HEAD
REF: A. BISHKEK 970
B. BISHKEK 897
BISHKEK 00001017 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Acting DCM Robert Burgess, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001017
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ ELECTION BODY'S MISSING HEAD
REF: A. BISHKEK 970
B. BISHKEK 897
BISHKEK 00001017 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Acting DCM Robert Burgess, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Kyrgyz opposition leaders on September 26
held a press conference to announce the resignation of
Central Election Commission (CEC) head Klara Kabilova. They
released a videotaped statement by Kabilova in which she
claimed that President Bakiyev's son Maxim had threatened her
over the October 5 local elections. The opposition leaders
added that Kabilova and her family had fled the country; it
appears that she may be in Moscow possibly applying for
asylum. The Prosecutor General has begun an investigation
into "Videogate," and he has already questioned Maxim Bakiyev
and reportedly plans to question the President's Chief of
Staff and opposition leaders over Kabilova's claims. This
turn of events seems to have surprised the government, but
leaves lingering questions about why a dispute over a local
election candidate should involve such high-level
personalities and drama. End Summary.
Elections, Threats and Videotape
--------------
2. (SBU) In a September 26 press conference, opposition
leaders Omurbek Tekebayev, Roza Otunbayeva, Bakyt Beshimov,
Cholpon Jakupova, and Temir Sariyev released a videotaped
statement by Central Election Commission (CEC) head Klara
Kabilova. In the video, Kabilova claimed that President
Bakiyev's son Maxim pressured and insulted her after the CEC
approved the candidacy of Ishenbay Kadyrbekov for the October
5 local council elections. Kadyrbekov, a former Chairman of
the State Agency for Architecture and Construction, is
currently in detention awaiting trial on corruption charges.
3. (SBU) In the video, Kabilova also announced her
resignation from her CEC post. The opposition leaders added
that Kabilova and her family had fled Kyrgyzstan because of
threats to their safety. Immediately after the press
conference, the CEC stated that Kabilova had not fled the
country, but rather was on an official mission to observe
elections in Belarus.
An Incompetent Leader
--------------
4. (SBU) Later on September 26, President Bakiyev
officially dismissed Kabilova from her position and appointed
her deputy, Damir Lisovskiy, as the acting CEC head.
Lisovskiy lashed out against his former boss, saying that
Kabilova was an "incompetent leader" and that her failure to
submit cost estimates for the local elections resulted in
their absence in the 2008 budget. He also denied her claims
that anyone harassed or exerted pressure on her. A
subsequent press report quoted CEC staff in Minsk as saying
that Kabilova had fallen ill in Moscow, and had not arrived
in Minsk.
Videogate
--------------
5. (SBU) On September 29, Kyrgyz Prosecutor General Elmurza
Satybaldiyev announced that he had opened a criminal
investigation of "Videogate," as it is already known, and
that he would question Maxim Bakiyev, President Bakiyev's
Chief of Staff Medet Sadrykulov, and the five opposition
leaders. Satybaldiyev said that opposition members would be
asked how Kabilova explained her actions when she handed over
the video recording, and added that Kabilova was in no
danger, because her statement was a "guarantee of her
safety." On September 30, Satybaldiyev advised the media
that Maxim Bakiyev had been questioned for an hour.
According to press accounts, Maxim Bakiyev claimed that he
BISHKEK 00001017 002.2 OF 002
had never spoken with Kabilova on the phone or visited the
CEC.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Given the initial CEC comment that Kabilova was on
an official trip and then President Bakiyev's subsequent
notice that he had fired her, it is clear that Kabilova's
videotaped resignation was a surprise to most government
officials. Kabilova's apparent reliance on the opposition to
release news of her resignation is striking given her role in
blocking opposition party Ata Meken from securing seats in
December's parliamentary elections. While Kabilova's
disappearance remains the subject of much speculation, it has
not disrupted preparations for the October 5 local council
elections.
7. (C) While Embassy has not heard of any public remarks
from Kabilova since the videotape's release, some Embassy
contacts report that Kabliova is in Moscow pursuing an asylum
claim.
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ ELECTION BODY'S MISSING HEAD
REF: A. BISHKEK 970
B. BISHKEK 897
BISHKEK 00001017 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Acting DCM Robert Burgess, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Kyrgyz opposition leaders on September 26
held a press conference to announce the resignation of
Central Election Commission (CEC) head Klara Kabilova. They
released a videotaped statement by Kabilova in which she
claimed that President Bakiyev's son Maxim had threatened her
over the October 5 local elections. The opposition leaders
added that Kabilova and her family had fled the country; it
appears that she may be in Moscow possibly applying for
asylum. The Prosecutor General has begun an investigation
into "Videogate," and he has already questioned Maxim Bakiyev
and reportedly plans to question the President's Chief of
Staff and opposition leaders over Kabilova's claims. This
turn of events seems to have surprised the government, but
leaves lingering questions about why a dispute over a local
election candidate should involve such high-level
personalities and drama. End Summary.
Elections, Threats and Videotape
--------------
2. (SBU) In a September 26 press conference, opposition
leaders Omurbek Tekebayev, Roza Otunbayeva, Bakyt Beshimov,
Cholpon Jakupova, and Temir Sariyev released a videotaped
statement by Central Election Commission (CEC) head Klara
Kabilova. In the video, Kabilova claimed that President
Bakiyev's son Maxim pressured and insulted her after the CEC
approved the candidacy of Ishenbay Kadyrbekov for the October
5 local council elections. Kadyrbekov, a former Chairman of
the State Agency for Architecture and Construction, is
currently in detention awaiting trial on corruption charges.
3. (SBU) In the video, Kabilova also announced her
resignation from her CEC post. The opposition leaders added
that Kabilova and her family had fled Kyrgyzstan because of
threats to their safety. Immediately after the press
conference, the CEC stated that Kabilova had not fled the
country, but rather was on an official mission to observe
elections in Belarus.
An Incompetent Leader
--------------
4. (SBU) Later on September 26, President Bakiyev
officially dismissed Kabilova from her position and appointed
her deputy, Damir Lisovskiy, as the acting CEC head.
Lisovskiy lashed out against his former boss, saying that
Kabilova was an "incompetent leader" and that her failure to
submit cost estimates for the local elections resulted in
their absence in the 2008 budget. He also denied her claims
that anyone harassed or exerted pressure on her. A
subsequent press report quoted CEC staff in Minsk as saying
that Kabilova had fallen ill in Moscow, and had not arrived
in Minsk.
Videogate
--------------
5. (SBU) On September 29, Kyrgyz Prosecutor General Elmurza
Satybaldiyev announced that he had opened a criminal
investigation of "Videogate," as it is already known, and
that he would question Maxim Bakiyev, President Bakiyev's
Chief of Staff Medet Sadrykulov, and the five opposition
leaders. Satybaldiyev said that opposition members would be
asked how Kabilova explained her actions when she handed over
the video recording, and added that Kabilova was in no
danger, because her statement was a "guarantee of her
safety." On September 30, Satybaldiyev advised the media
that Maxim Bakiyev had been questioned for an hour.
According to press accounts, Maxim Bakiyev claimed that he
BISHKEK 00001017 002.2 OF 002
had never spoken with Kabilova on the phone or visited the
CEC.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Given the initial CEC comment that Kabilova was on
an official trip and then President Bakiyev's subsequent
notice that he had fired her, it is clear that Kabilova's
videotaped resignation was a surprise to most government
officials. Kabilova's apparent reliance on the opposition to
release news of her resignation is striking given her role in
blocking opposition party Ata Meken from securing seats in
December's parliamentary elections. While Kabilova's
disappearance remains the subject of much speculation, it has
not disrupted preparations for the October 5 local council
elections.
7. (C) While Embassy has not heard of any public remarks
from Kabilova since the videotape's release, some Embassy
contacts report that Kabliova is in Moscow pursuing an asylum
claim.
GFOELLER