Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK656
2009-06-18 10:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ ELECTION: CANDIDATES REGISTERED; CAMPAIGN BEGINS
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UNCLAS BISHKEK 000656
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ ELECTION: CANDIDATES REGISTERED; CAMPAIGN BEGINS
JUNE 18
Ref: Bishkek 521
UNCLAS BISHKEK 000656
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ ELECTION: CANDIDATES REGISTERED; CAMPAIGN BEGINS
JUNE 18
Ref: Bishkek 521
1. (SBU) Summary: The Kyrgyz Central Election Commission has
approved six candidates for the July 23 presidential election. The
candidates, including incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and
leading opposition politicians Almazbek Atambayev and Temir Sariyev,
can begin campaigning June 18. The Kyrgyz government has removed
restrictions on the number of OSCE/ODIHR observers, and OSCE/ODIHR
now plans to field a "full" Election Observation Mission, which will
include 300 short-term observers. Embassy plans to submit
registration forms for its election observation teams by June 19.
End Summary.
At Least Six Candidates Approved
--------------
2. (SBU) As of June 17, the Kyrgyz Central Election Commission
(CEC) had approved six candidates for the July 23 presidential
election: incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev of the Ak Jol
Party; the United People's Movement candidate Almazbek Atambayev; Ak
Shumkar Party leader Temir Sariyev; psychiatrist and businessman
Jenishbek Nazaraliyev; NGO leader Toktoayim Umetaliyeva; and
politician Nurlan Motuyev. (Note: Motuyev, who was deported from
the United States ten years ago, has previously organized small
anti-U.S. protests. End Note.) Another candidate, Akbaraly
Aitikeev, a businessman, has appealed the CEC's denial of his
registration to the Kyrgyz Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has not
yet scheduled a time to hear Aitikeev's case.
3. (U) The six registered candidates fulfilled three requirements:
1) making a $2,300 electoral deposit; 2) passing a televised Kyrgyz
language test; and 3) submitting at least 50,000 signatures of
supporters, with at least three percent obtained in each of the
seven oblasts and two largest cities. The CEC disqualified several
candidates: two did not make the required deposit, two failed the
Kyrgyz language test, and five submitted insufficient signatures.
4. (U) The approved candidates will be permitted to begin
campaigning on June 18. Campaigning is allowed until July 22, one
day before the election.
Preparing for Election Observation
--------------
5. (SBU) Despite previous indications that Kyrgyz officials would
limit the number of OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission
observers (reftel),the Kyrgyz MFA informed the OSCE/ODIHR team that
it would be allowed to field as many observers as it wished.
OSCE/ODIHR NOW plans to field a "full" Election Observation Mission,
which will include 300 short-term observers to.
6. (SBU) Embassy has not/not heard of any difficulties encountered
by domestic organizations seeking to register as election observers.
The Embassy plans to submit registration forms for its 10 election
observation teams by June 19 to provide sufficient time for Kyrgyz
authorities to generate accreditation documentation prior to the
mid-July registration deadline.
LITZENBERGER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ ELECTION: CANDIDATES REGISTERED; CAMPAIGN BEGINS
JUNE 18
Ref: Bishkek 521
1. (SBU) Summary: The Kyrgyz Central Election Commission has
approved six candidates for the July 23 presidential election. The
candidates, including incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and
leading opposition politicians Almazbek Atambayev and Temir Sariyev,
can begin campaigning June 18. The Kyrgyz government has removed
restrictions on the number of OSCE/ODIHR observers, and OSCE/ODIHR
now plans to field a "full" Election Observation Mission, which will
include 300 short-term observers. Embassy plans to submit
registration forms for its election observation teams by June 19.
End Summary.
At Least Six Candidates Approved
--------------
2. (SBU) As of June 17, the Kyrgyz Central Election Commission
(CEC) had approved six candidates for the July 23 presidential
election: incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev of the Ak Jol
Party; the United People's Movement candidate Almazbek Atambayev; Ak
Shumkar Party leader Temir Sariyev; psychiatrist and businessman
Jenishbek Nazaraliyev; NGO leader Toktoayim Umetaliyeva; and
politician Nurlan Motuyev. (Note: Motuyev, who was deported from
the United States ten years ago, has previously organized small
anti-U.S. protests. End Note.) Another candidate, Akbaraly
Aitikeev, a businessman, has appealed the CEC's denial of his
registration to the Kyrgyz Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has not
yet scheduled a time to hear Aitikeev's case.
3. (U) The six registered candidates fulfilled three requirements:
1) making a $2,300 electoral deposit; 2) passing a televised Kyrgyz
language test; and 3) submitting at least 50,000 signatures of
supporters, with at least three percent obtained in each of the
seven oblasts and two largest cities. The CEC disqualified several
candidates: two did not make the required deposit, two failed the
Kyrgyz language test, and five submitted insufficient signatures.
4. (U) The approved candidates will be permitted to begin
campaigning on June 18. Campaigning is allowed until July 22, one
day before the election.
Preparing for Election Observation
--------------
5. (SBU) Despite previous indications that Kyrgyz officials would
limit the number of OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission
observers (reftel),the Kyrgyz MFA informed the OSCE/ODIHR team that
it would be allowed to field as many observers as it wished.
OSCE/ODIHR NOW plans to field a "full" Election Observation Mission,
which will include 300 short-term observers to.
6. (SBU) Embassy has not/not heard of any difficulties encountered
by domestic organizations seeking to register as election observers.
The Embassy plans to submit registration forms for its 10 election
observation teams by June 19 to provide sufficient time for Kyrgyz
authorities to generate accreditation documentation prior to the
mid-July registration deadline.
LITZENBERGER