Kyrgyz Press and Public Opinion Still Overwhelmingly

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000963

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: Kyrgyz Press and Public Opinion Still Overwhelmingly
Pro-Russian in the Georgia Conflict

BISHKEK 00000963 001.2 OF 002


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION


1. (SBU) Summary: Forty days after the beginning of the Georgian
conflict, opinions on the conflict in the Kyrgyz media are
resoundingly pro-Russian. Reader reactions to an Embassy op-ed
indicate that the U.S. version of events has little support. On the
contrary, the events in Georgia appear to be deepening anti-American
sentiment, as the U.S. is widely blamed for so-called "Georgian
aggression." End summary.

40 DAYS LATER: REFLECTING ON THE CONFLICT
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2. (SBU) September 16th marked the fortieth day anniversary of the
beginning of the conflict in Georgia and South Ossetia. (Comment:
In the cultures of the post-Soviet states, the fortieth day after
death is commemorated.) Kyrgyz newspaper "Moy Mikrorayon," a new,
independent paper, published a pro-Russian, analytical article on
the conflict and an editorial supporting Russia. In the editorial,
it wrote that Russia was "protecting peaceful people from Georgian
aggression." Accompanying the editorial were the results of an
online public opinion poll, "Should Kyrgyzstan Officially Recognize
the Independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia?" The survey
resulted in a 94% positive response.

U.S. PORTRAYED AS AN "EMPIRE OF EVIL"
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3. (SBU) "Beliy Parus," a pro-Russian newspaper, published a series
of articles during the month of September calling the U.S. an
"Empire of Evil," and claiming thousands of South Ossetians had died
at the hands of Georgian "puppets." One article claimed that the
U.S. used Georgia in its quest for world domination. The article
listed the countries the U.S. has already "attacked" (Iraq,
Afghanistan, and Yugoslavia) and those that the U.S. allegedly has
its sights on (Uzbekistan, Iran, and China).

READERS DISAGREE WITH EMBASSY OP-ED
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4. (SBU) Post placed a Department-approved op-ed on Georgia in the
largest daily newspaper, independent "Vecherniy Bishkek." The
newspaper published the op-ed on September 3. This article ran
directly across from an op-ed by the Russian ambassador to
Kyrgyzstan, defending the official Russian position on recognition
of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.


5. (SBU) On September 8, the newspaper published
letters-to-the-editor in response to the op-eds. All seven letters
supported the Russian position, saying "The U.S. is determined to
destabilize the CIS and Eurasia," "Saakashvili is paid by the State
Department," and "In Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yugoslavia,
and everywhere, the U.S. has imposed its world order without taking
into consideration the opinion of the world community, and despite
UN resolutions." Not one letter supported the U.S. version of
events.

GEORGIANS: "CLOWNS" IN NEW COLD WAR?
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6. (SBU) On September 23, independent, Kyrgyz-language newspaper
"Kyrgyz Ruhu" ("Kyrgyz Spirit"),published an article entitled
"Georgians are Clowns in the New Cold War," by former Press
Secretary for the General Prosecutor's Office and now independent
analyst, Toktogul Kakchekeev. The article was very emotional and
was "dedicated to the memory of the victims of Georgian aggression
in Abkhazia and South Ossetia." The article accused the U.S. of
"trying to carve up the world using the knives of colonialism or
globalization under the nice sauce of democracy, freedom, human
rights, freedom of press, and rule of law. But behind the facade of
these attractions there is an eternal rule of redistribution,
economic dependence, and loss of real sovereignty."


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FEW COMMENTATORS SUPPORT U.S. POSITION
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7. (SBU) There has only been one article in recent weeks that
supports the U.S. position on the situation in South Ossetia and
Akhazia. Unsurprisingly, the article was published in a
Kyrgyz-language newspaper (Comment: Kyrgyz newspapers tend to have
more independent voices than the Russian language papers). The
article featured an interview with an independent analyst (and
alumnus of a Marshall Center program) who compared the situation in
South Ossetia with Russia's war in Chechnya: "Chechens wanted
independence but were heavily suppressed and remained part of
Russia. When Georgians tried to demonstrate the same policy towards
Ossetia, they were told they couldn't do it. So, Russia can do it,
Georgia cannot. Russia can protect its territorial integrity,
Georgia cannot." The article referred to Russian "lies" and
"disinformation," saying "We don't get any information from Georgia
- we only get information from the Russian media." The article
concluded that Russia's harsh treatment of Georgia is retribution
for Georgia's desire to join NATO.


8. (SBU) Comment: The pro-Russian reaction to the events in Georgia
is unsurprising, given the fact that the overwhelming majority of
Kyrgyz get their news from Russia. There are very few public,
dissenting voices, and few independent media outlets.

GFOELLER