FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS

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