Former Foreign Minister Jekshenkulov Engages in Some

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000333

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: Former Foreign Minister Jekshenkulov Engages in Some
Revisionist History

Ref: A. 06 Bishkek 974

B. 06 Bishkek 1195

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Classified by CDA Lee Litzenberger, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary: In an April 1 press interview that became an
exercise in revisionist history, former Foreign Minister
Jekshenkulov claimed that he had had "no influence" over the
expulsion of two U.S. diplomats in July 2006 (Ref A). He took
credit for saving the bilateral relationship and for
Kyrgyzstan's acceptance into the Millennium Challenge program.
Jekshenkulov also said that two current Ak Jol party members
previously had spied for the Americans, but he refused to name
the alleged spies, citing protection of state secrets.
Jekshenkulov, who now heads the opposition For Justice
movement, said the group plans to invite President Bakiyev to
the "Kurultay," or people's assembly, now planned for April 12
in Bishkek. Jekshenkulov is dissembling on the PNGs and
righting the bilateral relationship; he was neither helpful
nor straightforward at the time of the PNGs and played
virtually no role in the MCC program. With his sensational
claims and his carefully chosen words about President Bakiyev,
Jekshenkulov appears to be trying to raise his profile and
promote his own political future. End Summary.

SELECTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY
--------------


2. (C) Former Foreign Minister and current leader of the For
Justice movement Alikbek Jekshenkulov gave a revealing
interview to the Kyrgyz-language Agym newspaper April 1. The
interview begins with a question on the apparent contradiction
in Jekshenkulov's career path: Why, after demanding the
expulsion of two U.S. diplomats working with NGOs in the
summer of 2006, is he now so closely working with NGOs (and
heading one himself)? Jekshenkulov answered that he has
always held that the government should support NGOs, and that
President Bakiyev once held the same view. Jekshenkulov
insisted that as Foreign Minister, he and his ministry had no
influence over the course of events that led to the expulsion
of the U.S. diplomats (see Ref A); he claimed that the episode
was driven entirely by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
and National Security Service (GKNB). He expressed regret
over the incident's outcome, but followed with comments taking
credit for saving the bilateral relationship through his
meeting with Assistant Secretary Boucher in August 2006 (Ref
B). Jekshenkulov also claimed to have sown the seeds for
Kyrgyzstan's acceptance into the Millennium Challenge (MCC)
program. Jekshenkulov took a swipe at the current government,
saying that unless internal politics and decision-making
changes, the country's foreign policy will not improve.

SPIES IN AK JOL?
--------------


3. (C) Jekshenkulov also claimed that two Kyrgyz citizens, who
at the time of the expulsions worked for local NGOs, had
helped U.S. diplomats with their intelligence collection
activities in Kyrgyzstan. Jekshenkulov refused to name them,
citing the protection of state secrets, but said the two were
now members of the pro-presidential Ak Jol party.
Jekshenkulov said he believed that senior government officials
were aware of their background but remained silent. (Comment:
It is not clear from the interview whether Jekshenkulov was
referring to Ak Jol members of parliament. End Comment.)

SUPPORT FOR A KURULTAY
--------------


4. (SBU) In the interview, Jekshenkulov also discussed plans
for the upcoming "Kurultay," now scheduled for April 12.
(Note: A Kurultay is a traditional people's assembly that

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provides a forum for citizens to express their views regarding
the performance of the government, and provide suggestions for
the resolution of problems. The right to hold a Kurultay is
protected under the Kyrgyz constitution. End Note.) He said
that the opposition For Justice movement plans to invite
Bakiyev to the Kurultay, and he warned that there could be
problems if the government denied a venue for the meeting.
(Note: Press reports April 7 indicate the government has
approved holding the Kuraltay in Biskek, in the square outside
the parliament. End note.) Jekshenkulov expressed his faith
in the process of Kurultays, stating that demonstrations were
no longer needed in this "civilized society," but rather that
dialogue was the key to resolving issues.


5. (SBU) Jekshenkulov disputed accounts alleging that
disagreements within the opposition or lack of funds caused
the postponement of the Kurultay, which had originally been
planned for March 29; he blamed government officials for
spreading such rumors. He remarked that any group with
fifteen political parties, more than twenty NGOs, and numerous
other political figures is bound to have iffering views. He
also said that Kurultay would take place with financial
backing of the groups and individuals within the For Justice
movement, with no foreign funding at all.

A NOTE ABOUT AGYM NEWSPAPER
--------------


6. (C) The Agym newspaper that published the interview with
Jekshenkulov was formerly owned by former opposition MP Melis
Eshimkanov. It once held the distinction of being the most
virulent opposition newspaper in Kyrgyzstan. Over time,
articles published in Agym have become less critical of the
government, a trend that tracks closely with Eshimkanov's
shift in political loyalties after Bakiyev appointed him as
the head of the State Television and Radio Company (KTR) in
October 2007. Despite having sold the newspaper, Eshimkanov
is rumored to maintain influence over the newspaper's content.
Agym's decrease in sensational reporting -? which in
Kyrgyzstan determines the popularity of a newspaper,
regardless of its reliability -? has resulted in a
corresponding loss of readership and revenue, and has led to
an exodus of journalists working for the paper.

COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) Jekshenkulov's interview was part revisionist history,
part self-aggrandizement, and part careful positioning for his
own political future. Jekshenkulov mixes sensational claims
with careful wording regarding the upcoming Kurultay. His
criticisms are relatively mild against Bakiyev, and are more
visceral towards the MVD and GKNB. By inviting the President
to the Kurultay and advocating peaceful means of criticism and
alternative views, Jekshenkulov is likely hoping to elevate
not only the status of the For Justice movement, but also his
own profile and political future.

LITZENBERGER