OPPOSITION LEADER WANTS HELP FROM U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001082 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KG SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LEADER WANTS HELP FROM U.S. BISHKEK 00001082 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Larry L. Memmott for Reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Roza Otunbayeva, a former Foreign Minister and current Member of Parliament for the Social Democrat Party, met with the Charge on September 25. Otunbayeva criticized the U.S., the OSCE, and other Western countries for their silence as the Presidential election was stolen and opposition activists were arrested. Otunbayeva said that since former Chief of Staff Medet Sadyrkulov left the Administration, the opposition has had no reliable interlocutor with the government. Acting for the United People's Movement, Otunbayeva has requested a meeting with the President, but hasn't gotten a response. Otunbayeva described an opposition movement that is broken down, broke, and largely discouraged. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Roza Otunbayeva, a former Foreign Minister and current Member of Parliament for the Social Democrat Party (SDPK),met with the Charge on September 25. She began the meeting by criticizing Western governments and institutions for their silence over the past months, saying "we in the opposition have been left completely alone." She requested U.S. assistance in pushing back against legal assaults on opposition members by the government, saying, "we want you to find the best way to help the opposition." ¶3. (C) Otunbayeva said that since former Presidential Chief of Staff Medet Sadyrkulov left the Administration in 2008, the opposition has had no reliable interlocutor, and essentially has no dialogue with the government. In a September 1 speech, President Bakiyev called for renewed dialogue with social groups, including the opposition. Otunbayeva said that the joint opposition group, the United People's Movement, selected her to open a dialogue with the government, and she agreed because she wanted to try to do something about imprisoned opposition members. But so far, the President has not responded to their request for a meeting. The Secretariat requested some papers, so Otunbayeva believes the request is still under consideration. ¶4. (C) Otunbayeva described an opposition movement that is broken down, broke, and largely discouraged, with many of its leaders in jail or with serious legal problems. Green Party leader Erkin Bulekbayev has been jailed since April. Former Foreign Minister Alikbek Jekshenkulov has withdrawn from politics after six months in jail. SDPK Parliamentary Leader Bakyt Beshimov is widely believed to have sought refuge in the U.S., and SDPK MP Kubanychbek Kadyrov, whose immunity was just lifted by parliament, is in hiding. Otunbayeva did not hide her disdain for those who went into hiding instead of continuing to fight. In contrast, she described Omurbek Tekebayev, Ismail Isakov and Azimbek Beknazarov approvingly, saying they are broke, jobless, and beset by legal troubles, but continue the opposition's struggle against Bakiyev. ¶5. (C) Otunbayeva noted that several children of opposition leaders also have legal troubles. Isakov's son, who is facing charges for accepting illegal gifts, has resigned his military commission and is in the U.S. seeking asylum. Beknazarov's son, who was charged with cheating a former business partner over a car deal, has requested and received refugee status from the UNHCR in Almaty. (Otunbayeva passed us a copy of a document to that effect from UNHCR and asked us to help him obtain asylum in the U.S. or Canada.) Jekshenkulov's son, accused of involvement in a nightclub brawl, is also attempting to register with the UNHCR, according to Otunbayeva. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Like many Kyrgyz opposition leaders, Otunbayeva BISHKEK 00001082 002.6 OF 002 appears to hope for some intervention from the United States that could compel the Government to toe the line on its democratic commitments and stop persecuting members of the opposition. We will continue to address the treatment of the opposition in quiet meetings with the government, but we see little prospect that our efforts will effect significant change over the medium term. MEMMOTT