KYRGYZ PRESIDENT BAKIYEV RETURNS TO BISHKEK

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000303 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PRESIDENT BAKIYEV RETURNS TO BISHKEK REF: A. BISHKEK 290 ¶B. BISHKEK 283 ¶C. BISHKEK 279 ¶D. BISHKEK 256 Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) An ambulatory President Kurmanbek Bakiyev returned to Kyrgyzstan the evening of March 28, after a 25-day "vacation" in Germany. Bakiyev walked off the plane and spoke to reporters, dispelling rumors that he was seriously ill (or dead). Without being specific, Bakiyev said that doctors had treated "joints in his legs" that had given him trouble recently, requiring him to stay in Germany longer than originally planned for his "short leave." Bakiyev said that he had a complete check-up, and he was in good health. ¶2. (SBU) Bakiyev was met at the airport by Prime Minister Chudinov, Speaker Madumarov, Chief of Staff Sadyrkulov, GKNB Chief Sutalinov, Defense Minister Isakov, and several other senior officials. In Bishkek, there was a "spontaneous" demonstration on the central Ala Too Square to welcome home Bakiyev. Police blocked off nearby streets to accommodate the demonstration. (Note: the City of Bishkek's new restrictions on public demonstrations require 10-day advance notice, and Ala Too Square is not one of the approved sites for public gatherings. None of this seemed to matter. End Note.) ¶3. (C) Comment: Bakiyev's extended absence, compounded by the lack of official information on his condition, fueled numerous rumors that he was seriously ill or even had died (Ref B). Even well-connected government insiders apparently had little information about the president's condition or treatment (Ref A). While Bakiyev's return March 28 to Bishkek has put to rest the direst rumors, his somewhat puffy appearance and apparent weight gain have sparked new speculation: that his appearance and the amount of time spent away are consistent with having undergone an angiogram and angioplasty procedure. We expect the rumors about Bakiyev's health -- and what actually happened in Germany -- to continue for the near term. YOVANOVITCH