PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF SADRYKULOV: FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000279

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR FOR INR/B AND SCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR KG
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF SADRYKULOV: FROM
HORSE WHIPERER TO BARBARIAN HANDLER

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


1. (C) On March 17, Presidential Chief of Staff Medet
Sadyrkulov invited Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Pamela
Spratlen, Ambassador and DCM to dinner at 12 Chimneys, a
restaurant in the mountains outside of Bishkek. The evening
provided some insight into Sadyrkulov, perhaps the most
powerful man in the country after President Bakiyev.


2. (C) Demands control; wants to impress: As soon as
Sadyrkulov entered the restaurant, he took control: ordering
that another table be moved closer to the fireplace for us,
that more logs be placed on the fire, and that French wines
be brought to the table. When the waiter presented two
French wines to choose from, Sadyrkulov looked perplexed,
then selected one at random. He clearly believed that
ordering French wines would impress, but that seemed to be
the limit of his knowledge of wine. The table had the usual
variety of salads, which were followed by multiple courses of
fish and meat that were all pre-ordered. Sadyrkulov,
nevertheless, expansively ordered other items off the menu
that he thought his guests might like.


3. (C) Barbarian Handler: Sadyrkulov told us that he is an
excellent rider, and in his youth broke in wild horses until
he suffered an accident, which left him with a limp. He said
that he was successful, because he approached the horses with
his head down, humbly. As he manipulates the political
scene, we've seen Sadyrkulov use this tactic successfully
with opposition members, civil society, and foreigners.
Clearly this horse whisperer has moved up from horses to work
his way with people.


4. (C) Step by step: One of Sadyrkulov's favorite
expressions is "step by step" or "phased," (poetapno) usually
said in English, to remind us that reform cannot be hurried,
that change takes time. Sadyrkulov said that he didn't have
electricity in his hometown of Kemin before he was in grade
school and remembers doing his homework by the light of a
lantern. If it took that long to get electricity, he noted,
progress takes time.


5. (C) Bishkek is a Little America: When he was Ambassador
to Tehran, Sadyrkulov sent a group of Iranian businessmen to
Bishkek. They returned impressed by the lively, open Kyrygz
capitol, and told Sadyrkulov that Bishkek is a "little
America." Sadyrkulov tells this story often, to underline
that we may be impatient with the pace of reform, but
fundamentally there are more similarities than differences
between our two countries.


6. (C) Never cross Sadyrkulov: Sadyrkulov is not shy
about sharing stories about those who have double-crossed him
and how he has settled the score. He has not forgiven Kulov
for abandoning him when Sadyrkulov was charged with
corruption by former General Procurator Beknazarov and dealt
with Kulov forcefully when he tried to use demonstrations to
force Bakiyev from power. However, now that Kulov is not
participating in politics, Sadyrkulov said he is trying to
help him and other opposition leaders. He seemed to want to
demonstrate that he can be magnanimous -- when he has the
upper hand.


7. (C) Keep your Enemies Closer: Former Central Banker
Ulan Sarbanov was also charged at the same time as
Sadyrkulov, but unlike Sadyrkulov, who landed on his feet as
soon as he was acquitted, Sarbanov still can't find work.
When we asked why, Sadyrkulov chuckled and said that he
(Sadyrkulov) was a politician, people were afraid to keep him
out in the cold.


8. (C) The Ultimate Realist: Sadyrkulov said he would
never be President due to "nuances," so he, therefore, didn't
want to be President. He also said he would not want to be
Prime Minister. His place, he said, is in the shadows,

influencing events. (Comment: Sadyrkulov did not elaborate
on the nuances, but it is rumored that he is ethnically
Kazakh, which, if true, would torpedo any presidential
ambitions. Another reason, might be the many enemies he has
accrued during his years at the center of Kyrgyz politics,
first as former President Akayev's Chief of Staff, and now as
President Bakiyev's. End Comment.)


9. (C) Ready to charm by sharing Kyrgyz culture: At the
beginning of the evening, Sadyrkulov had arrived
uncharacteristically late, with his hair disheveled and wet.
He explained that he had stopped off at a nearby mountain
spring to drink the waters, said to have healing qualities,
and bathe his face, something he does whenever he is very
tired and needs to decompress. After dinner, Sadyrkulov led
his guests up the road through the dark night to the spring,
so we, too, could partake of this "magical" Kyrgyz ritual.
YOVANOVITCH