KYRGYZ INSIDER PROVIDES FURTHER DETAILS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000226 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ INSIDER PROVIDES FURTHER DETAILS ON SADYRKULOV KILLING REF: A. BISHKEK 206 ¶B. BISHKEK 119 ¶C. BISHKEK 109 BISHKEK 00000226 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Former Deputy Prime Minister Ibraimova told the Embassy that she is certain the Ministry of Internal Affairs is covering up the true circumstances of the March 13 killing of Medet Sadyrkulov (Ref A). She said that Sadyrkulov had gone to Almaty, Kazakhstan on March 12 to raise money for his "new opposition" (See Refs B and C). Ibraimova said she was now reaching out to other opposition figures, all of whom are "ready to resist" the government. Ibraimova asked for financial support from the United States, but said she was prepared to seek financial support elsewhere -- even if there were strings attached. End Summary. Doubts about the Investigation -------------- ¶2. (C) Former Deputy Prime Minister Elmira Ibraimova told an American employee of the Embassy that she was certain of Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) complicity in the March 13 killing of former Presidential Chief of Staff Medet Sadyrkulov, apparently in a suspicious traffic accident (Ref A). Citing public statements from Minister of Internal Affairs Kongantiyev that vehicle and other forensic testing would take weeks to complete, Ibraimova said the MVD was trying to string out the investigation in order to help defuse the anger and resentment the killing has sparked. ¶3. (C) Ibraimova thought there was a possibility that Parliament would hold hearings on Sadyrkulov's death. She hoped there would be an extraordinary plenary session on the matter, but it would require 31 MPs to petition for this. (Note: Bakiyev's Ak Jol party controls 71 of 90 seats in the Parliament. End Note.) Opposition Plans Accelerated -------------- ¶4. (C) Ibraimova said that the reason she and Sadyrkulov had not yet made public their plans to form a new political opposition to President Bakiyev (Refs B and C) was their lack of funds. She said that Sadyrkulov had gone to Almaty, Kazakhstan on March 12 to finalize arrangements for sufficient funds for their group. While she had not been part of the negotiations for funding, she said that the funds were to come in three tranches, and they were about to receive the first tranche. She said that Sadyrkulov did not have the funds with him when he drove back from Almaty early on March 13, but he did have a briefcase containing detailed documentation about their group, including names and phone numbers. As a result, she said, they would have to accelerate their plans. ¶5. (C) Part of their plans had been to find "common cause" with the "public" opposition, such as Ata Meken party leader Omurbek Tekebayev, despite the public opposition's poor organization and limited prospects for success against Bakiyev. Since Sadyrkulov's death, Ibraimova said she has been contacting a number of opposition figures, including Ak Shumkar party leader Temir Sariyev, former MP Bolotbek Sherniyazov, and former Prime Minister Almaz Atambayev. She claimed that "everyone" was ready to resist Bakiyev. (Note: Opposition leaders had earlier announced plans for nationwide "mass actions" against the government on March 27. End Note.) ¶6. (C) Ibraimova said she believed that the only course for the opposition was to overthrow Bakiyev, and no action short of that was worthwhile. She said she would make a public statement this week condemning in detail Bakiyev. She said BISHKEK 00000226 002.2 OF 002 she was "prepared to die" for her cause. She also said that she will get "personal security" protection, provided by sympathizers, starting this week. Seeking Support -------------- ¶7. (C) Ibraimova asked if there was any way, including financial, that the United States could provide support. She said that if her group did not get support from the U.S., they would get it elsewhere, even if "there would arise certain obligations" to whoever provided support. Her Embassy interlocutor expressed skepticism about any support, but said he would pass the message. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) While the government has been systematically harassing the leadership of the opposition through court cases and threats, Sadyrkulov's killing appears to raise the risks to those who oppose Bakiyev. Sadyrkulov's death is a huge blow to the group he was forming. Ibraimova appears hardened, despite the risk to her personal security, but it is not clear yet whether this incident will enable the "new opposition" to emerge as a force in Kyrgyz politics. GFOELLER