RFE/RL UZBEK-LANGUAGE BROADCASTS FROM KYRGYZSTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000531

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: RFE/RL UZBEK-LANGUAGE BROADCASTS FROM KYRGYZSTAN
SHUT DOWN

BISHKEK 00000531 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: A/DCM Robert Burgess, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Post met with local Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty (RFE/RL) representatives to investigate reported shut
down of RFE/RL's Uzbek-language radio broadcasts from
Kyrgyzstan. Broadcasts in the UKV frequencies have
apparently been stopped since April 30; local representatives
speculate that this was done at the request of the Uzbek
government. We also learned that FM broadcasts to the
Fergana Valley may have ceased nearly two years ago. The
local BBC representative also reported recent problems with
BBC Uzbek-language broadcasts from Kyrgyzstan, but the
broadcasts resumed May 17. Post confirmed that RFE/RL
websites remain inaccessible through KyrgyzTelecom, the main
local Internet Service Provider (ISP),although the source of
the blockage is not clear. End Summary.


2. (SBU) APAO and press assistant held meetings May 23 with
the local RFE/RL affiliate, representatives from the BBC, and
the Bishkek Director of Radio Azattyk (RFE/RL's Kyrgyz
Service) to investigate reported problems with cross-border
broadcasts of Uzbek-language radio programs. RFE/RL and VOA
have broadcast Uzbek-language programming into Uzbekistan
from transmitters in southern Kyrgyzstan on FM and UKV
frequencies. (Note: UKV, also called "Eastern FM," is
Soviet-era band, still popular in Russia, but newer radios
usually do not tune to it. End note.) RFE/RL also
broadcasts Uzbek-language programming on shortwave and medium
wave bands.

Cross-border RFE/RL Broadcasts Shut Down
--------------


3. (C) APAO met with Rustam Koshmuratov, the Director of
Radio Almaz, which broadcasts VOA and RFE/RL programs in
Bishkek and Naryn. Koshmuratov is also the local
representative for International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB),
which oversees RFE/RL and VOA. He explained that IBB pays
for five hours of prime air time from RPO-RMTR, the
state-owned radio and TV transmission network, for RFE/RL
broadcasts in Russian, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek. However, he said
that since April 30, the Uzbek service has been taken off the
air. Koshmuratov claimed that this was done on an order from
the Kyrgyz Security Council, which is rumored to have
received a letter from "the Uzbeks" in March requesting that
the Kyrgyz stop the Uzbek-language broadcasting onto the
territory of Uzbekistan.

BBC Broadcasts Back on Air
--------------


4. (C) In a separate meeting, the local British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC) representative, Tolkunbek Turdubaev, told
us that BBC had experienced problems with Uzbek-language
broadcasts. He explained that BBC broadcasts in cooperation
with the Kyrgyz State Television and Radio Corporation (KTR,
or NTRK) via transmitters purchased by BBC. About a month
ago, he said, listeners complained that there were not
receiving Uzbek-language programming (while they could still
receive Kyrgyz-language programming). KTR blamed "technical
problems," but Turdubaev said that his contacts in the Kyrgyz
White House told him that the Security Council was under
pressure from the Uzbeks, based on SCO agreements to respect
each other's broadcasting sovereignty. Since May 17, the BBC
Uzbek-language broadcasts have resumed, covering the entire
Fergana Valley by FM.

No FM Broadcasts for Past Two Years?
--------------


5. (C) APAO then met with Kuban Otorbaev, the Bishkek
Director of Azattyk (RFE/RL's Kyrgyz service); Tyntchtykbek
Tchoroev, the Director of the Radio Azattyk office in Prague;

BISHKEK 00000531 002.2 OF 002


a stringer from Radio Ozodlik (RFE/RL's Uzbek service); and
Koshmuratov. During the meeting, it came out that there has
not been any FM Uzbek-language broadcasting from Osh since
June/July 2006. The Radio Ozodlik stringer questioned
whether there had been Uzbek-language RFE/RL broadcasting on
any frequency, though he admitted that he had not checked the
UKV frequencies. Koshmuratov, however, insisted that there
had been Uzbek-language UKV broadcasting until April 30.
(Note: Koshmuratov later provided us with a copy of the UKV
broadcast schedule. RFE/RL Prague confirmed to us that they
are certain the UKV broadcasts had been received in
Uzbekistan until April 30. End Note.)

Continued Problems with Website Access
--------------


6. (SBU) The RFE/RL websites, www.rferl.org and
www.azattyk.kg, have been inaccessible through KyrgyzTelecom,
the main ISP in Kyrgyzstan, since April 11. However, the
sites are accessible through smaller ISP's and through a
mirror site, www.azattyk.org. The cable that provides
internet service to KyrgyzTelecom goes through both Russia
and Kazakhstan. Local sources have told us that the blockage
does not originate in Kyrgyzstan.


7. (C) Comment: The situation surrounding RFE/RL
Uzbek-language broadcasts remains unclear; the local
representatives themselves don't agree on the status of
broadcasts. The allegations that the Kyrgyz government has
cut a deal with the Uzbeks to stop RFE/RL Uzbek-language
broadcasting in the Fergana valley are so far unconfirmed and
based on speculation. We understand that RFE/RL continues to
investigate the situation. At this point, we think an
official condemnation or statement would be premature.
LITZENBERGER