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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001316 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: "MATRYOSHKAGATE" FALL-OUT:  EVERBODY WANTS TO JOIN 
THE OPPOSITION 
 
BISHKEK 00001316  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger, REASON 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  Since opposition MP Omurbek Tekebayev was 
cleared of drug smuggling charges in Poland and returned to 
Kyrgyzstan, the "Matryoshkagate" scandal has been the talk of 
the town -- and of Parliament.  Looking relaxed and confident 
-- and clearly enjoying his role as a national hero -- 
Tekebayev told us September 13 about his ordeal in Poland and 
who he thinks might have been behind the plot against him. 
He said that the ultimate impact of the scandal on the 
Bakiyev government would depend on how President Bakiyev 
addressed Parliament's demands for reforms and a full 
investigation.  President Bakiyev appeared before Parliament 
September 14, promising his full support to both the 
parliamentary and state commissions investigating the affair, 
and stating that constitutional reform would go forward 
quickly.  Parliament will continue to debate the issue 
September 15, and on September 17, Tekebayev and other 
opposition politicians will participate in a "Kurultai," an 
opposition rally in the southern Aksy district.  The incident 
has re-energized the political scene, and resurrected 
Tekebayev, the Parliament, and the opposition.  END SUMMARY. 
 
TEKEBAYEV ON MATRYOSHKAGATE 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Wags in Bishkek have dubbed the growing scandal 
surrounding the apparent planting of drugs by Kyrgyz security 
services on former Speaker and current MP Omurbek Tekebayev 
"Matryoshkagate," and the impacts from the scandal are 
spreading.  Immediate fall-out from the scandal has hit the 
National Security Service (SNB), with President Bakiyev 
removing his brother Janysh as SNB First Deputy Chairman and 
accepting the resignation of SNB Chairman Busurmankul 
Tabaldiyev.  (NOTE:  SNB Deputy Elmurza Satybaldiyev has been 
appointed Acting SNB Chairman.  END NOTE.)  But the scandal 
has also emboldened the Parliament, and it has rehabilitated 
Tekebayev, making him again a national figure.  Tekebayev 
made a surprise showing at the DCM's welcoming reception on 
September 13 and used the occasion to sit down and tell us 
about his ordeal in Poland, who he suspects might have been 
behind the set-up, and what he thinks will follow.  Tekebayev 
supporters, including Emil Umetaliyev, Omurbek Andrakhmanov, 
and NGO leader Asiya Sasykbaeva, participated in the 
discussion, over beer and wine in the Ambassador's garden. 
 
¶3. (C) Looking relaxed and confident, and clearly enjoying 
his role as a national hero, Tekebayev described his time in 
Poland from the arrest at the airport September 5 to his 
release by a court three days later.  Not usually a reserved 
person, he surprised himself at how calmly he had reacted to 
the situation.  He was impressed with the Polish court 
system.  The judge "evaluated all the evidence" (such as no 
fingerprints on the matryoshka), Tekebayev's background, and 
the political situation in Kyrgyzstan, and ruled that it was 
not possible Tekebayev would risk his reputation by carrying 
drugs.  Interestingly, Tekebayev was also asked during the 
hearing if he was a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, and he 
responded that it would be impossible, as he was an atheist, 
as well as the founder and leader of a social democratic 
party. 
 
¶4. (C) Tekebayev said he was not convinced that Janysh 
Bakiyev masterminded the plot against him; he said he 
suspected former Presidential Chief of Staff Usen Sydykov, a 
"schemer" with motive and access.  He laid out the following 
scenario:  Opposition demands led to Sydykov's dismissal as 
Chief of Staff in May 2006.  Sydykov's son is the vice 
president of Bishkek's Manas Airport.  Sydykov has long had a 
rivalry with Bakiyev's brothers, and he reportedly had 
advised Bakiyev to remove his brothers from their government 
posts.  Sydykov has a connection (same home area, maybe more) 
to Airport security chief Nadir Mamyrov, who was seen in the 
 
BISHKEK 00001316  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
airport surveillance tapes showing an interest in Tekebayev's 
bag (Ref B), and who has reportedly written a letter to 
President Bakiyev confessing and saying that Janysh Bakiyev 
was behind the plot.  (NOTE:  Several versions of Mamyrov's 
letter have surfaced, and Mamyrov himself is reportedly in 
hiding.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶5. (C) Regarding further fall-out from the scandal, Tekebayev 
said that the next few days would be crucial.  Much would 
depend, he said, on whether President Bakiyev appeared before 
Parliament and how he addressed Parliament's demands.  If 
Bakiyev gave a reasonable explanation of events, asked 
forgiveness for past mistakes, recalled his brothers from 
their positions (Ambassador to Germany; trade rep at the 
Kyrgyz Embassy in China), and promised soonest constitutional 
reform, then Parliament may give him a chance.  Similarly, 
what happens at the opposition "Kurultai" rally on September 
17 would depend on what happens in Parliament over the next 
two days. 
 
¶6. (C) Separate from the discussion of Tekebayev's case, one 
guest in this group relayed Foreign Minister Jekshenkulov's 
reported comments on the PNGing of two U.S. diplomats this 
past summer.  Standing with a small group in the lobby of 
Parliament September 12, Jekshenkulov was asked to comment on 
the "diplomatic scandal."  He said that he could not stop the 
PNG process because people "there" (pointing to the ceiling) 
had showed him pictures taken by the two U.S. diplomats at a 
sauna, where some high level officials were cavorting with 
"girls." 
 
BAKIYEV IN PARLIAMENT 
--------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) On September 14, the whole cabinet and the heads of 
presidential offices attended the Parliamentary session 
devoted to Tekebayev's case.  President Bakiyev appeared 
before the deputies, saying he wanted to discuss the current 
situation.  He detailed actions taken to investigate the 
incident, and he promised full support to the investigations 
by both the state and parliamentary commissions.  He pledged 
that constitutional reform (which appeared to be on a 
back-burner) would now go forward quickly, with hearings on 
the draft constitutions to begin soon in Parliament.  He 
vigorously defended his family members, saying that they had 
gotten their government jobs based on merit.  He noted that 
in many countries there were examples of relatives occupying 
high positions. 
 
¶8. (U) Asked why the National Security Council was not 
involved in the investigation, Bakiyev said that was because 
Security Council Secretary Gen. Miroslav Niyazov was on 
leave.  He then disclosed that Niyazov would be moving to a 
different (unspecified) position once he returned from leave. 
 Bakiyev commented that if he had been Niyazov, he would have 
come back from vacation under these circumstances. 
Parliament then questioned current Chief of Staff Abdyldayev 
about the case.  The session devoted to the case will 
continue September 15, with the possible vote on a (now 
watered-down) resolution censuring the government. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶9. (C) Matryoshkagate has shifted the political landscape, 
though we are not sure what the ultimate fall-out will be. 
Parliament is clearly emboldened by the scandal, challenging 
the President and other members of the government.  The SNB 
has seen a shake-up, at least at the top.  President Bakiyev 
has been put on the defensive.  The opposition is 
invigorated.  And Tekebayev has been politically resurrected, 
from an outcast following his dismissal as Speaker to a 
national hero now.  We think Tekebayev had a purpose in 
 
BISHKEK 00001316  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
coming the reception and staying so long, and that was to 
gauge his standing with the international community, and with 
us, in particular.  The GOKG officials at the event, 
including Deputy Foreign Minister Sarbayev, Deputy Defense 
Minister Oruzbayev, and others, immediately flocked to him 
when he arrived, eager to hear his story.  As one guest 
observed, everyone wants to be in the opposition now.  In any 
event, all eyes will be on the Parliament -- and on the 
opposition "Kurultai" at the weekend.  END COMMENT. 
YOVANOVITCH