Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK303
2008-03-31 12:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ PRESIDENT BAKIYEV RETURNS TO BISHKEK
how-toVZCZCXRO8903 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHEK #0303 0911205 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 311205Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0860 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2473 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0870 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2865 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2250 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
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).
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
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