Kyrgyz Press Review
August 2010
The following are a series of synopsized articles drawn from various Russian-language publications in Kyrgyzstan, covering everything from politics to culture. This press review is meant to give a summary of current events happening in Kyrgyzstan as well as to Kyrgyz daily life and society. Weblinks to the related stories in Russian are provided when available online.
President Dismisses Supreme Court Judges
(July 30) -- Before leaving on a working visit to the Batkenskaya Region, President Roza Otunbayeva signed a decree dismissing seven judges from the Supreme Court, including Erkinbek Toktomambetov, the deputy chairman of the Supreme Court. The reasons for the dismissals were not announced. However, Azimbek Beknazarov, Deputy Prime Minister of the provisional government, offered some commentary on the situation. He stated that the dismissals were in connection with numerous complaints about the judges received from citizens, who reported incidents of bribe taking, violations of procedures for removing judges, and that the judges adjudicated unfairly according to “orders from above.” Beknazarov also explained that the vacant posts are currently being filled by reserve judges, since Supreme Court members are legally appointed by a national commission consisting of deputies from parliament, but, due to the recent regime change, there currently are none. Source: MSN
Upcoming Elections Could Do More Harm than Good
(August 5) -- According to Central Asia experts from the German Friedrich Naumann Beate Ashment Fund, Kyrgyzstan was never a democratic country, since democracy is conditional not upon simply the presence of a democratically-oriented constitution, but upon a the country’s domestic policies themselves. The Fund expresses misgivings about the stabilization of the situation in Osh and believes that carrying out parliamentary elections is extremely undesirable, since the south of Kyrgyzstan is mired in bloody conflicts and party leaders are advocating more for the success of their own parties rather than for the country’s future. Source: Vecherny Bishkek
Controversy Over Nationalization
(August 5) -- While business circles in Kyrgyzstan are not happy about nationalization, officials in the interim government are seemingly thrilled about their “ingenious” plans. Businessmen are jokingly saying “all that’s left is to nationalize Kyrgyzstan’s population.” Minister of State Assets Sherali Abdyldayev believes that nationalization in no way has affected the country’s economic climate. In his opinion, only members of the ruling Bakiyev family were involved in big business the past few years anyway and big foreign investors were kept out. Currently, the nationalization of 34 objects, 14 of which will be sold off, is being discussed while no one can say how much money the sale will bring to the federal budget. Furthermore, since 2005, incidents of corporate raiding (taking over a company by stealing or forging relevant documents) have become known which involved property that is now being prepared for nationalization. This brings up the question of how to deal with property owners who have lost their property illegally. Source: Vecherny Bishkek
Possible Customs Union with Russia
It has become a tradition that as soon the heads of the CIS countries get together, there always follows a loud announcement from Kyrgyzstan. At the last conference of the EuroAsian Economic Community, President Roza Otunbayeva proclaimed that Kyrgyzstan is willing to join the Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus Customs Union. This issue has raised conflicting opinions. According to Taalaibek Koichumanov, the former finance minister and current head of the Investment Committee Secretariat, joining the Customs Union would be accompanied by an increase in customs duties for the country, and in turn complicate trade with China by increasing prices on goods and decrease income to the federal budget. Additionally, there is also the question of whether Kyrgyzstan can keep its competitiveness on the same level with the other members of the Customs Union – Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. It is also true that there is also another side of things that affects the labor market. Over time, access to this market in Russia or in Kazakhstan will begin to decrease. And since about a million Kyrgyz work outside the country, this could become a major problem. The import situation will also not change for the better. Askar Beshimov, the executive director of the social fund Project of the Future, very eloquently remarked exactly on that score: “It will be just as bad for us whether Kyrgyzstan joins or not.” Source: MSN
Damage Estimates Increasing
(August 11) – The government has counted 355 businesses that were damaged during mass unrest on April 6-8. The damages are estimated to be around 599.8 million som, or US$12.8 million – about half of what the business owners themselves had claimed. The government commission in charge of evaluating the damages and taking measures to support businesses presented their findings at a recent press conference. In total, 377.9 million som (US$8.1 million) worth of damages were done to large and mid-sized businesses, while chain store and retail trade network suppliers suffered 54.5 million som (US$1.1 million) worth of damages and leaseholders suffered 167.8 million som (US$3.5 million) of damages. The commission’s deputy chairman said that businessmen were dissatisfied with the fact that the government will not be able to compensate all of the damages at once due to the current budget deficit. A number of decrees have been implemented to regulate the situation, one of which provides for non-recurrent, interest-free loans or credit on advantageous terms to help compensate damages. Source: Vecherny Bishkek
Rallies Against OSCE Police Deployment
(August 12) – On August 11, yet another demonstration against bringing in a police task force from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in order to restore order in the south of Kyrgyzstan took place in the capital of Bishkek. A similar demonstration also took place near the regional administration building in the southern city of Osh. According to Zamir Sydykov, press secretary of Osh’s Main Internal Affairs Directorate, after the community elders spoke, the protestors dispersed and promised that they would be out again the following day. However, according to information from Samat Jamanbayev, chairman of the youth movement Demilge (Initiative) and one of the protest’s organizers, the protesters did not disperse but rather the number of demonstrators continued to grow after the speeches took place. Source: Vecherny Bishkek
Rumors Surrounding Urmat Barktabasov
(August 10) -- Urmat Barktabasov, Kyrgyz political figure, businessman, and former presidential candidate who was arrested along with some of his supporters on August 5, 2010 as they were trying to organize a kurultai (people’s gathering) in Bishkek, recently gave an interview to the newspaper Vecherny Bishkek. According to some accounts, those present at the gathering were organizing an armed seizure of power. In the interview, Barktavasov said that a criminal case was opened by the authorities on the revolution attempt that took place in connection with events in June 2005 in order to place pressure on him. Barktavasov also said that “the main organizers of the meeting were the leader of the Ata Meken party and Keneshbek Duishobayev, head of the National Security Council” and that he was simply a “guide” in the events that took place. This information has not yet been confirmed. Source: Forum
US Will Not Build Military Base in Osh
(August 10) – Foreign media sources had been reporting recently that the US was reviewing the possibility of constructing a new $10 million military base in southern Kyrgyzstan. According to reports, a training center for preparing for military operations in Afghanistan was to be located there. However, Alik Orozbayev, press secretary for Kyrgyzstan’s National Security Council, reported that the country’s interim government is not discussing the opening of a new military base in Osh with the US. He also stated that if countless protests against the new government occur which might lead the country to civil war, the US will bring in their troops without authorization. Kubatbek Baibolov, Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Minister, said that discussions about opening a new air base in Osh were discussed under former president Bakiyev’s administration. Source: Forum
State Television Reorganization Still Under Discussion
(August 10) -- The issue of reorganizing the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation (GTRK) into a publicly-owned entity still has not been reviewed. Reforming the GTRK into a public television company was one of the opposition’s demands expressed at demonstrations in April and November 2006. The authorities’ promise to make the GTRK public and thereby take away the government’s monopoly on the media, right now remains just a promise. It is understood that this will be one of the major issues that will form public opinion in the upcoming elections. The presidential administration announced that it is currently reviewing the issue and will soon create an oversight committee to handle the GTRK. However, it is not yet known who will be among the committee’s members. Source: Forum
Old Habits Proving Hard to Break
(August 10) – The new administration is following the same path as previous ones by appointing family members and relatives to key posts. It seems the examples made by ex-presidents and other members of the government haven’t been a lesson for their successors. The up until now unknown Bolot Otunbayev, brother of President Roza Otunbayeva, has recently appeared on the political scene, appointed to a post in Kyrygzstan’s Interior Ministry. It is being said that “there is no doubt that whichever party Otunbayev supports will be victorious.” Azimbek Beknazarov, Kyrgyzstan’s deputy prime minister, also surprised many by appointing his own son, Ruslan Beknazarov, to a deputy post similar to those previously occupied by Aidar Akayev and Maksim Bakiyev, sons of former presidents. There are rumors that Ruslan has already privatized several assisted living facilities near Issyk-Kul, a large lake in the northeast of Kyrgyzstan. Source: Alibi
President Trying to Keep Government Officials out of Politics
(August 10) -- President Roza Otunbayeva has ordered government officials not to interfere in political matters and not to carry out any “agitating actions” in support of one political party or another. However, it is not legally allowed for the president to give such an order. Due to financial interests or family ties, government officials are continuing use their employment status to coerce their subordinates into supporting particular parties. It was recently discovered that Kamchybek Uzakbayev, director of the Bishkek Children’s Hospital in the Dzhal neighborhood, was forcing his employees to support the Republic political party. Source: Forum
Special Service Vets Protest Commander’s Arrest
(August 19) – Veterans of the country’s Special Services began an ongoing demonstration yesterday on Prospekt Erkindik in defense of Lieutenant Colonel Almazbek Dzholdoshalyev who was, up until the April 7 revolution, commander of the State National Security Service’s special branch called Alpha Anti-Terror. Immediately after the events in April, Dzholdoshalyev was dismissed and four months later, was taken into custody after he and the entire Alpha special service group were accused of shooting protestors during the revolution. Special service members, the majority of whom are now resigned, gathered near the gates of the National Security Service’s building in order to draw attention to the current situation. Source: Vecherny Bishkek
IMF’s Fleeting Funds
(August 13) -- The International Monetary Fund wrapped up its mission in Kyrgyzstan last week. According to Nadimi Ilakhi, head of the Fund’s Middle East and Central Asia department, an agreement was reached for Kyrgyzstan to receive $34 million of external financial aid. Negotiations are also underway on starting an accelerated lending program which would allow Kyrgyzstan to receive $1.1 billion to stabilize its budget. A definitive decision on the program will be made this September in Washington, D.C. According to Ilakhi, Kyrgyzstan has a good chance of taking part in this program. Source: MSN
Outstanding Example for Kyrgyz Youth
(August 20) – The need for progressive energy in society among the younger generation, the importance of life and studying overseas to expand one’s awareness, as well as raising young people to be self-motivated is a topic often discussed but less often exemplified. A perfect example of this lies in an energetic young girl named Gulnura Toraliyeva, a role model for both parents and young people. She became a journalist at age 18 and at 26 became dean of the Journalism and Mass Communications Department at the American University in Central Asia. A large part of her success she attributes to her upbringing as a child. The time she lived overseas altered her world view and allowed her to fall in love with her home country all over again. Source: Vecherny Bishkek
Russia Pledges Assistance to Kyrgyzstan
(August 24) – An informal summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) took place August 20-21 in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. The heads of member-states Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan took part in the summit. Interim Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva took part for the first time in this summit, which is the fourth to have taken place since the CSTO was formed. The main topics of the meeting were developing critical response mechanisms to the current situation in Kyrgyzstan. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev held a two-party talk with President Otunbayeva, where he assured Otunbayeva that Kyrgyzstan will be able to overcome the difficulties it currently faces and that Russia will give as much assistance as possible by delivering such things as hot meals, supplies of wheat, weapons, and medicine. According to Medvedev, there is “still much more to be done” and Russia stands by Kyrgyzstan as its ally and partner in the CTSO. One may recall that only a few months ago, President Medvedev had pronounced Kyrgyzstan “the future Afghanistan” and expressed doubt that the situation in the country could be brought under control. However, his meeting with Otunbayeva at the summit showed that he has a positive attitude towards cooperation with Kyrgyzstan. Source: Forum
Supply Shortfalls and Embezzlement Discovered in State Agencies
(August 26) – Kyrgyzstan’s Audit Chamber has revealed a number of serious financial violations in the country’s State Material Reserves Fund and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The violations were discovered as a result of an audit of the first six months of 2010. Instances of supply shortfalls and embezzlement of diesel fuel and wheat were discovered. Specifically, the audit found a shortfall of 7,602 cubic meters of diesel fuel worth about 153,600 som (approximately US$33,000) in the company Aziret Oil, LLC. The audits showed that in three oil-rich regions in Kyrgyzstan – the Ortoyevsky, Frunzensky, and Kuramy Regions – 195,725 liters of diesel fuel worth about 5.5 million som (US$118,000), were received by unknown entities or stolen. A shortfall of 7,200 tons of grain worth about 72 million som (US$1.5 million) was found in the LLC KyrgyzProdukt. A shortfall of 2,900 tons of grain worth 28.6 million som (US$613,000) was discovered at Elitnyi Kleboprodukti. State-owned enterprise Temir had a shortfall of iron scrap and ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap worth 12.2 million (US$261,500) som. Financial violations amounting to 90.6 million som (US$1.9 million) were discovered within the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Unjustified salary payments were discovered within the ministry as well as numerous write-offs of inventory items and funds, including business trip expenses, overstated amounts of construction and installation work, and so forth. All the noted instances of financial violations and misuse of materials discovered in the audit have been handed over to law enforcement officials for appropriate measures to be taken. Source: Aalam
Other Stories of Note:
Key Political Risks to Watch in Kyrgyzstan
Two weeks after the worst ethnic bloodshed in the country's modern history, Kyrgyzstan voted on June 27 to create Central Asia's first parliamentary democracy.
The Ghost of the Soviet Union
The war in the South Caucasus in 2008 was the third armed confrontation involving Georgia and South Ossetia in 17 years. However, the five-day war, for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, attracted the attention of the international community.
Bishkek Blunder
Did Kyrgyzstan's government facilitate ethnic cleansing?
Blame and Resentment in Kyrgyzstan
In a recent interview with the AFP news agency, Roza Otunbayeva, the president of Kyrgyzstan, admitted that security services in the south of the country were targeting minority Uzbeks.
In Central Asia, a New Headache for US Policy
Beset by mounting casualties on the battlefield and deepening disquiet at home over the United States' longest war, President Obama's Afghan policy now faces another big headache: the unraveling of central authority in Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian nation that hosts a U.S. air base critical to the battle against the Taliban.
American Plans to Build Military Facility in Southern Kyrgyzstan Fall Through
Plans for the United States to construct an anti-terror training center in southern Kyrgyzstan have collapsed. The demise of the project raises concerns about stabilization prospects in southern Kyrgyzstan, a region that is still searching to regain a sense of equilibrium following an outburst of inter-ethnic violence in June.
Farmers Suffering in Southern Kyrgyzstan
Sultan Madrakhimov is desperate to sell his potatoes, even at a considerable loss. The main problem, he laments, is that he cannot get his produce to markets beyond southern Kyrgyzstan. His difficulties, as well as those of hundreds like him, are a direct consequence of the inter-ethnic violence that engulfed southern Kyrgyzstan in June.
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