Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK894
2009-08-07 11:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZSTAN: ABUSE OF ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES IN
how-toVZCZCXRO7339 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW DE RUEHEK #0894/01 2191140 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071140Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2561 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3214 RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1506 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3559 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2945 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000894
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2019
TAGS: PINT PGOV KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN: ABUSE OF ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES IN
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, PART II
REF: REF: BISHKEK 888
BISHKEK 00000894 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Classified By: Amb. Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000894
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2019
TAGS: PINT PGOV KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN: ABUSE OF ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES IN
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, PART II
REF: REF: BISHKEK 888
BISHKEK 00000894 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Classified By: Amb. Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: In the run-up to the 2009 Presidential
elections, the government of Kyrgyzstan used all its
administrative resources to support President Bakiyev,s
campaign. The government exerted extraordinary pressure on
state employees and their families to vote for the President,
going so far as to monitor the casting of their votes at
polling stations. Influence was also applied to a wide range
of ordinary citizens, from businessmen, to musicians and
athletes, to teachers and students. In the end, Bakiyev,s
use of state resources gave him an advantage in the election
that the opposition was unable to overcome. This is Part II
of a two cable series on the run-up to the 2009 Presidential
Election. END SUMMARY
VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT, OR ELSE!
--------------
2. (C) Groups tied to the government reported being pressured
to vote for Bakiyev. Director of the State Agency on Sports
and Youth Aleksandr Voinov was told by the White House his
job depended on ensuring that the majority of professional
and amateur athletes vote for the president, and to use the
many sport associations that receive government funding to do
so. Some universities, including Osh State, the largest in
the country, extended the academic year until August to
ensure that students and faculty members could be forced to
vote in front of the school officials that run precincts at
the universities. School teachers also reported being
required to vote for Bakiyev. School directors were observed
at polling stations on election day, checking off lists of
teachers to ensure that everyone voted.
3. (C) Many doctors and others connected to the Ministry of
Health told Embassy employees that they have been both bribed
with salary raises and free trips to Lake Issyk Kul, and
threatened with sackings if they did not vote. Some doctors
have been required to give the names of five relatives who
promise to vote for Bakiyev--and have been told that these
names will be checked on election day.
4. (C) Government employees were required to postpone
vacations to ensure they could vote. Several officials
refused International Visitor and other USG programs because
they would have been out of the country on election day. One
official was able to travel on the International Visitor
program only because he voted early. He claimed that he
needed to take the voting receipt with him to the airport to
show Customs officials, who would not let him leave without
it.
5. (C) Despite criticism from international observers, many
in the government seem satisfied with the elections. Central
Election Commission members were seen partying in Bishkek the
day after the elections and told EmbOff they were very proud
of their work. A group of ministers were also seen toasting
their success at Lake Issyk Kul the weekend after the
elections. Voinov said that Bakiyev met with each Minister
individually after the election to review his or her
performance. Bakiyev told Voinov that he had done a good job
in the campaign, especially in the far regions, and should be
able to keep his job.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The Kyrgyz government used all possible methods and
tools to ensure a high voter turnout on election day, and to
ensure the re-election of President Bakiyev. The
BISHKEK 00000894 002.2 OF 002
government,s massive use of state resources in favor of
Bakiyev greatly dwarfed resources available to the opposition
and gave the President an advantage. The efforts of the
government may reflect official anxiety over public
dissatisfaction with electricity shortages and other problems
in the past year, or might be part of a broader attempt to
tighten control in the country. Attempts by the opposition
to capitalize on any dissatisfaction among voters over the
election results appeared to have failed.
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2019
TAGS: PINT PGOV KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN: ABUSE OF ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES IN
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, PART II
REF: REF: BISHKEK 888
BISHKEK 00000894 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Classified By: Amb. Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: In the run-up to the 2009 Presidential
elections, the government of Kyrgyzstan used all its
administrative resources to support President Bakiyev,s
campaign. The government exerted extraordinary pressure on
state employees and their families to vote for the President,
going so far as to monitor the casting of their votes at
polling stations. Influence was also applied to a wide range
of ordinary citizens, from businessmen, to musicians and
athletes, to teachers and students. In the end, Bakiyev,s
use of state resources gave him an advantage in the election
that the opposition was unable to overcome. This is Part II
of a two cable series on the run-up to the 2009 Presidential
Election. END SUMMARY
VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT, OR ELSE!
--------------
2. (C) Groups tied to the government reported being pressured
to vote for Bakiyev. Director of the State Agency on Sports
and Youth Aleksandr Voinov was told by the White House his
job depended on ensuring that the majority of professional
and amateur athletes vote for the president, and to use the
many sport associations that receive government funding to do
so. Some universities, including Osh State, the largest in
the country, extended the academic year until August to
ensure that students and faculty members could be forced to
vote in front of the school officials that run precincts at
the universities. School teachers also reported being
required to vote for Bakiyev. School directors were observed
at polling stations on election day, checking off lists of
teachers to ensure that everyone voted.
3. (C) Many doctors and others connected to the Ministry of
Health told Embassy employees that they have been both bribed
with salary raises and free trips to Lake Issyk Kul, and
threatened with sackings if they did not vote. Some doctors
have been required to give the names of five relatives who
promise to vote for Bakiyev--and have been told that these
names will be checked on election day.
4. (C) Government employees were required to postpone
vacations to ensure they could vote. Several officials
refused International Visitor and other USG programs because
they would have been out of the country on election day. One
official was able to travel on the International Visitor
program only because he voted early. He claimed that he
needed to take the voting receipt with him to the airport to
show Customs officials, who would not let him leave without
it.
5. (C) Despite criticism from international observers, many
in the government seem satisfied with the elections. Central
Election Commission members were seen partying in Bishkek the
day after the elections and told EmbOff they were very proud
of their work. A group of ministers were also seen toasting
their success at Lake Issyk Kul the weekend after the
elections. Voinov said that Bakiyev met with each Minister
individually after the election to review his or her
performance. Bakiyev told Voinov that he had done a good job
in the campaign, especially in the far regions, and should be
able to keep his job.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The Kyrgyz government used all possible methods and
tools to ensure a high voter turnout on election day, and to
ensure the re-election of President Bakiyev. The
BISHKEK 00000894 002.2 OF 002
government,s massive use of state resources in favor of
Bakiyev greatly dwarfed resources available to the opposition
and gave the President an advantage. The efforts of the
government may reflect official anxiety over public
dissatisfaction with electricity shortages and other problems
in the past year, or might be part of a broader attempt to
tighten control in the country. Attempts by the opposition
to capitalize on any dissatisfaction among voters over the
election results appeared to have failed.
GFOELLER