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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000286 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT:  Kyrgyzstan: Attacks Spread Fear Among Journalists 
 
Ref:  Bishkek 197 
 
BISHKEK 00000286  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: In the past month, four journalists have been 
attacked in Kyrgyzstan.  Opposition newspapers and the public 
speculate that the attacks were intended to intimidate the press in 
the run-up to the March 27 opposition protests and early 
presidential elections this year.  One paper, "Litsa," announced its 
closure, while another, "Reporter Bishkek," publicly contemplated 
closure.  Officials blame the attacks on criminals.  END SUMMARY. 
 
FOUR ATTACKS ON JOURNALIST IN CLOSE SUCCESSION 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On March 3, four unknown, armed men attacked Syrdak 
Abdyldaev, a political correspondent for the independent 
Russian-language paper, "Reporter Bishkek."  (Reftel)  Two 
individuals stabbed Abdyldaev twenty-one times in a way that was 
purposefully non-life-threatening, while two individuals broke his 
arms, resulting in open fractures in both arms.  The most popular 
analysis of the attack by journalists, opposition politicians, and 
the general public was that the attack was ordered by the 
authorities to intimidate journalists. 
 
¶3. (SBU) On March 7, a cameraman for the Osh TV Broadcasting 
Company, Bahodyr Kenjebaev, was attacked near the Jackpot bar in 
Osh.  Osh TV Editor-in-Chief Halil Hudaibergenov alleged that the 
attack was intended to intimidate the cameraman, who reported on 
corruption, prostitution, and criminals.  Other independent 
commentators claim this attack was most likely criminal in nature. 
The victim was hospitalized with severe brain concussion, facial 
edema, and multiple bruises.  A criminal investigation is underway. 
 
¶4. (SBU) During the early morning hours of March 26, three unknown 
assailants attacked two journalists who print the Kyrgyz insert to 
the Moscow-based "Moskovsky Komsomolets" newspaper.  The victims of 
the attack were Ulugbek Babakulov, a former human rights activist 
who was recently appointed as Editor-in-Chief; and reporter Elena 
Ageyeva, well-known for her column called "Letter to the President," 
in which she regularly mocks the authorities.  The assailants stole 
a cell phone, 200 som (about 5 dollars), and a rain coat, prompting 
the Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesman to claim publicly that 
the attack was not related to the journalists' professional 
activities.  However, many in the media community consider the 
attack to be either an attack on press freedom or an example of how 
local police have lost the ability to protect citizens from random 
violence. 
 
MEDIA REACTION TO THE ATTACKS 
----------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) After he was beaten, Abdyldaev gave an interview to 
"Azattyk" radio, in which he said he had been followed for about one 
month prior to the attack.  He said the attack was likely ordered 
and intended to injure him, rather than kill him.  The 
editor-in-chief of Reporter, Turat Akimov, said that this is the 
second attack against his reporters and that he will likely have to 
shut down the newspaper. 
 
¶6. (SBU) On March 12, the Russian-language opposition newspaper 
"Litsa" published an article called "Two of them cut me, two broke 
my bones: How to Kill a Journalist" under a column entitled 
Political Sadism.  The newspaper quoted Abdyldaev as saying "They 
imprisoned us [journalists] during [former president] Akayev's rule. 
 Now they're killing us.  Who is attempting to intimidate us?  To 
break us emotionally, to drive us into depression?"  The newspaper 
editorialized that the attack was meant to "sow panic, fear in 
society, or more precisely, in the community of independent 
journalists and activists of individual parties." 
 
¶7. (SBU) On March 18, "Moskovskiy Komsomolets-Kyrgyzstan" published 
an article called "Open Season on Journalists," which said, "The 
increased frequency of the attacks against journalists is a clear 
 
BISHKEK 00000286  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
sign of upcoming, important political events on the national scale. 
In the light of the civil protest meetings of the opposition, which 
are always illuminated in detail by the media, such attacks can be 
projected as a warning 'to hold one's tongue behind the teeth.' [. . 
.] Thus, the season for hunting journalists is open.  Who issues 
licenses to hunters?" 
 
¶8. (SBU) On March 26, the publisher and Editor-in-Chief of "Litsa," 
Bermet Bukasheva, commented on her decision to close the paper: "You 
have probably heard of psychological pressure.  After the attack on 
Syrgak Abdyldaev, who wrote stories for "Litsa" too, we should take 
threats seriously.  What upsets me the most is the indifferent 
reaction of the public.  [People] just talked a little bit and 
forgot.  I am not scared of anybody or anything.  I am just 
disappointed by the dirty politics and public indifference." 
 
OFFICIAL REACTION: ATTACKS NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) On March 16, Minister of Internal Affairs Moldomusa 
Kongantiev said at his press conference that even if Abdyldaev was 
attacked for the things he wrote, it was what he wrote about 
criminals -- not what he wrote about politics -- that provoked the 
attack.  He said the attack was not connected to politics.  The 
person who allegedly attacked Osh TV cameraman Kenjebaev has been 
arrested and charged with robbery and hooliganism.  No more details 
or comments are available so far in the case of Ulugbek Babkulov and 
Elena Ageyeva. 
 
GFOELLER