KYRGYZ ELECTION: OFFICIALS DISRUPT OPPOSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000595 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ ELECTION: OFFICIALS DISRUPT OPPOSITION RALLIES BISHKEK 00000595 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Kyrgyz government personnel disrupted a series of opposition United People's Movement rallies throughout Issyk Kul Oblast in late May. Local militia detained opposition supporters, impeded Parliamentarians, and apparently permitted assembled mobs to throw stones at and jostle opposition vehicle convoys. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and other officials disputed descriptions of the incidents, pointing the finger at opposition politicians for "misbehavior" and claiming that their actions sought to "protect" opposition supporters from angry crowds. However, a Kyrgyz White House advisor blamed local authorities for the disruptions, saying that those officials wanted to impress incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in advance of the July 23 Presidential election. End summary. Planning for the Opposition Rallies -------------- ¶2. (U) The United People's Movement (UPM),a leading opposition group backing former Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev in the July 23 Presidential election, announced plans May 18 for meetings throughout Issyk Kul Oblast at the end of May. UPM officials claimed the meetings were organized to discuss general domestic issues and the upcoming election. Under Kyrgyz law, the meeting organizers were only required to notify local authorities, and the authorities were required to respond in writing to the request, with a court order necessary to prevent the meeting. Government Personnel Intervene -------------- ¶3. (U) According to media reporting, local officials and security personnel throughout Issyk Kul Oblast disrupted the UPM's planned events. On May 29, local police confiscated 10,000 copies of a pro-opposition newspaper and 50 flags from the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK). (Note: Atambayev heads the SDPK. End Note.) On May 30, local militia in Tyup village stopped vehicles carrying (opposition) Ata Meken Party chief Omurbek Tekebayev and other opposition supporters. The militia then permitted an assembled crowd to jostle the vehicles, and ultimately detained some of the opposition supporters. When SDPK Parliamentarian Kubanychbek Kadyrov visited the Tyup police station to seek the release of the opposition supporters, Kadyrov claimed that Tyup district police chief Ernis Duishembiev assaulted him. Militia elsewhere detained Tekebayev, while another assembled group attacked other UPM and SDPK supporters. Militia later released all of the detained opposition supporters. ¶4. (U) On May 31, police stopped several vehicles carrying prominent opposition politicians, and, in the case of former Parliamentarian Erkinbek Alymbekov, reportedly permitted a group to attack Alymbekov's vehicle. An assembled crowd attacked the SDPK office in Karakol, where a meeting with Tekebayev, Kadyrov and Parliamentarian Roza Otunbayeva was taking place. Government Officials Dispute Opposition Claims -------------- - ¶5. (U) At a June 3 press conference, UPM and SDPK officials detailed the incidents that plagued their Issyk Kul meetings. On June 4, Issyk Kul police officials claimed they had detained opposition supporters for their "protection" from angry crowds. Also, on June 4, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) issued a press release claiming that local authorities prevented the UPM rallies in response to complaints from residents. The MVD also alleged that the parliamentarians "misbehaved," and said Tekebayev had been BISHKEK 00000595 002.2 OF 002 detained because his driver failed to obey the traffic police. The MVD denied that Kadyrov had been assaulted. White House Blames "Local Officials" -------------- ¶6. (U) However, the SDPK requested the Prosecutor General's office to investigate the incidents. SDPK Parliamentarian Bakyt Beshimov claimed that the Issyk Kul MVD branch had mobilized 2,000 security personnel and spent its monthly budget to disrupt the opposition meetings. The Kyrgyz White House distanced itself from the incidents. White House Advisor Sergei Masaulov blamed local authorities, saying they had been seeking to impress incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev through the "administrative outrage" of their actions to disrupt the Issyk Kul meetings. Masaulov said Bakiyev and the central government had no interest in such actions. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) The disruption of opposition rallies repeats a pattern of intimidation used in previous elections. Despite attempts to blame local officials for misdeeds, the Kyrgyz White House is mobilized to achieve victory for incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Widespread but unconfirmed rumors indicate that the President's brother, Janysh, is spearheading these strong arm tactics. Janysh heads the Presidential Security Service, recently gained control over the National Guard, and is rumored to maintain links to organized crime. He is also widely believed to have had a hand in the staged killing of former Presidential Chief of Staff Sadyrkulov earlier this year. GFOELLER