Opponents to Kyrgyz president: Tackle crime and corruption or resign

4/18/06

A broad-based alliance of prominent politicians and non-governmental organization representatives in Kyrgyzstan issued an ultimatum to President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on April 18 – either immediately implement measures to contain rampant crime and corruption or resign. To back their warning, the president's opponents are pressing ahead with plans to hold a nationwide rally on April 29.

Rally organizers announced at an April 18 news conference that they may try to convene a permanent protest in Bishkek's central Ala-Too Square if they do not receive a satisfactory response from the president. In addition to the immediate implementation of stabilization measures, Bakiyev opponents called for the dismissal of several political allies of the president, including Chief-of-Staff Usen Sydykov, National Security Service chief Tashtemir Aytbayev, State Secretary Dastan Sarygulov and Prosecutor General Kambaraly Kongantiev. The organizers also demanded immediate constitutional reform to weaken the executive branch and the reorganization of state-controlled mass media.

Reflecting the mood of mutual antagonism that currently pervades Kyrgyzstani politics, a leading political nemesis of Bakiyev, former parliament speaker Omurbek Tekebayev, was selected as the chief coordinator of the rally coalition, which comprises roughly 20 leading political parties and NGOs. Tekebayev's outspoken criticism of Bakiyev led to his resignation as speaker in February. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The rally coalition's emergence has prompted comparisons to the protest movement that developed in the aftermath of the country's 2005 parliamentary elections. That movement culminated in the Tulip revolution, which sent former president Askar Akayev fleeing into exile. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Temir Sariev, a member of parliament and rally coalition leader, stressed that Bakiyev opponents intend to conduct a non-violent protest. "If authorities don't provoke [us] and resort to violence like former authorities [Akayev's administration] then this [April 29] rally will be peaceful," Sariev said. Organizers have said they intend to mobilize 10,000 or more protesters on April 29, building on the experience gained during a preliminary rally staged on April 8.

Jyrgalbek Turdukojoyev, a leader of the NGO Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, indicated that rally organizers were preparing for several scenarios, including one in which law enforcement agents try to break up the protest. "Given our previous experience of conducting meetings, we know that it [the use of force by authorities] is possible," he said.

Several developments in recent weeks helped forge the rally coalition. The chief catalyst was the controversial April 9 parliamentary by-election victory by reputed crime kingpin Ryspek Akmatbayev. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Bakiyev was widely perceived to be supportive of Akmatbayev's candidacy, generating concern among rule-of-law advocates that the president was either unwilling or unable to confront entrenched criminal interests. Civil society supporters were doubly alarmed by the April 12 assassination attempt against human rights activist Edil Baisalov, who has been one of Akmatbayev's most vocal critics. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Initial signs indicated that Bakiyev is preparing for a deepening of the political conflict. On April 18, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry announced that Bakiyev would visit Moscow on April 24-25 for talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. A Foreign Ministry representative announced that Bakiyev's visit, his first trip abroad since his election as president last year, would focus on economic issues. Given the trip's timing, however, it is clear that Bakiyev will be looking for political support from Putin, observers in Bishkek say.

Bakiyev to date has largely remained silent in the face of growing criticism of his administration. In sharp contrast to the growing chorus expressing alarm about the spread of corruption and organized crime's influence, Bakiyev has tended to downplay the issues. "Maybe corruption exists among some low-ranking officials and there are some [isolated] cases of graft and blackmail, but it doesn't exist on the highest level. This I consider as key achievement", the presidential press service quoted Bakiyev as saying recently.

Posted April 18, 2006 © Eurasianet