Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BISHKEK38
2010-01-12 08:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS
how-toVZCZCXRO5503 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW DE RUEHEK #0038 0120809 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 120809Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2954 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1622 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 3677 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3070 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE IMMEDIATE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000038
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS
IN JAIL
REF: BISHKEK 5
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000038
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS
IN JAIL
REF: BISHKEK 5
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) On January 11, the Bishkek Garrison Military Court
sentenced former Minister of Defense, Presidential candidate,
and political insider, Ismail Isakov, to eight years in
prison at a maximum security prison. Isakov was convicted of
corruption, including illegally transferring to his son an
apartment that belonged to the Ministry of Defense. Isakov
has publicly stated that his arrest was politically
motivated. He has said that his problems began after he
resigned as Secretary of the Security Council and told
President Bakiyev that there were problems in the President's
entourage and with the country's domestic and foreign policy.
Following his resignation, Isakov joined the political
opposition and ran for President in the July 2009 election.
2. (C) COMMENT: Opposition members have said to us that while
some of the specific charges against Isakov were likely true,
they were also petty and did not justify a prison term.
However, Isakov's long prison sentence is not surprising as
he represented perhaps the strongest rival to President
Bakiyev. Many observers believe that Isakov, as Defense
Minister, was one of the least corrupt members of the Bakiyev
government. In addition, Isakov's image, that of a strong
military leader, and his charisma could have posed a threat
to President Bakiyev.
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS
IN JAIL
REF: BISHKEK 5
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) On January 11, the Bishkek Garrison Military Court
sentenced former Minister of Defense, Presidential candidate,
and political insider, Ismail Isakov, to eight years in
prison at a maximum security prison. Isakov was convicted of
corruption, including illegally transferring to his son an
apartment that belonged to the Ministry of Defense. Isakov
has publicly stated that his arrest was politically
motivated. He has said that his problems began after he
resigned as Secretary of the Security Council and told
President Bakiyev that there were problems in the President's
entourage and with the country's domestic and foreign policy.
Following his resignation, Isakov joined the political
opposition and ran for President in the July 2009 election.
2. (C) COMMENT: Opposition members have said to us that while
some of the specific charges against Isakov were likely true,
they were also petty and did not justify a prison term.
However, Isakov's long prison sentence is not surprising as
he represented perhaps the strongest rival to President
Bakiyev. Many observers believe that Isakov, as Defense
Minister, was one of the least corrupt members of the Bakiyev
government. In addition, Isakov's image, that of a strong
military leader, and his charisma could have posed a threat
to President Bakiyev.
GFOELLER