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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001554 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN PROTEST UPDATE 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 1551 
     ¶B. BISHKEK 1548 
     ¶C. BISHKEK 1537 
     ¶D. STATE 180495 
 
BISHKEK 00001554  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  In Parliament on November 3, Prime Minister 
Kulov said that the government had received a taped 
conversation of opposition leaders planning to seize 
government buildings and regional administrations.  State 
Secretary Madumarov claimed the tape "made obvious" that 
 
SIPDIS 
there was foreign government involvement (and large sums of 
money) in the demonstration.  The tape was played in 
Parliament, and Speaker of Parliament Sultanov then said that 
experts should evaluate whether the tape is authentic. 
Several opposition figures denied that they intended to 
overthrow the government.  The MFA distributed a transcript 
of the tape to the diplomatic corps, and the transcript and 
an mp3 file were posted to the Internet. 
 
¶2. (C) The opposition protest continued through the night of 
November 2-3, with approximately 500 protesters spending the 
night in tents on the central Ala-too Square.  The crowd grew 
to more than 1000 in the morning.  At 1300 local, 
approximately 600-700 protesters left the square and marched 
to City Hall, where they demanded that the mayor resign. 
From there, the protesters marched to the state-owned KTR 
television studios, and a group of opposition leaders met 
with KTR officials to demand airtime in the evening, in part 
to explain the tape.  KTR will reportedly give the opposition 
airtime in the evening. 
 
¶3. (C) At 1500, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs 
described the situation as "pretty quiet."  He had no idea 
how much longer the protest would continue, but he assured 
the Ambassador that the police would take no harsh measures. 
In the late afternoon, demonstrators peacefully occupied the 
administrative building in an eastern Bishkek suburb, and 
there was a small demonstration in Talas.  As of 1700, the 
crowd in Ala-too Square had grown to approximately 2000, with 
an increased number of militia and National Guard troops 
deployed around the White House. 
 
¶4. (C) The Presidential Administration confirmed to the 
Ambassador that President Bakiyev would present his draft of 
a new constitution to the Parliament on November 6.  The 
Deputy Head of the Administration dismissed Madumarov's 
charges of foreign involvement in the protest.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Televised Debate on November 2 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) At 2100 November 2 following the first day of the 
protest on Ala-too Square, state-owned KTR broadcast a live 
debate/discussion with Prime Minister Kulov, State Secretary 
Madumarov, and MPs Azimbek Beknazarov, Kanybek Imanaliyev, 
Sultan Urmanayev, and Isa Omurkulov.  Beknazarov was harshly 
critical of the government.  Kulov said that the constitution 
could not be reformed in one day, and that he had no 
intention of resigning.  He also asked people not to 
participate in any counter-demonstrations. 
 
Opposition Tape Played in Parliament 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶6. (SBU) In the morning of November 3, Prime Minister Kulov 
appeared in Parliament to say that overnight the government 
had received a tape recording (diskette) of opposition 
leaders plotting to overthrow the government by seizing 
particular buildings and regional administrations.  The tape 
was played in Parliament, and Speaker of Parliament Sultanov 
said that experts should determine its authenticity.  State 
Secretary Madumarov said the recording revealed precise plans 
 
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BISHKEK 00001554  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
and timings for seizures of government buildings, and he 
claimed it was "obvious" that some foreign states 
participated in this "attempt at destabilization."  Civil 
society activist and demonstration participant Edil Baisalov 
(purportedly on the tape) charged that the tape was a fake, 
and MP Bolotbek Sherniyazov (also purportedly on the tape) 
said that the opposition had no plans to overthrow the 
government. 
 
¶7. (C) At 1230, the MFA convoked the diplomatic corps to 
provide an update of the situation and to hand out a 
transcript of the tape (Note:  the transcript was scanned and 
emailed to SCA/CEN).  Responding to a question from the 
Ambassador, First Deputy Foreign Minister Taalay Kydyrov said 
the MFA had no information regarding foreign government 
support for the demonstration.  (Comment:  A number of 
diplomats believe the release of the transcript by the MFA is 
a way for the GOKG to lay out the justification for a use of 
force should that become necessary.  Ambassador reached MVD 
Deputy Suvanaliyev and Deputy Head of the Presidential 
Administration Sadyrkulov to repeat our concern about the 
situation and that all sides should act non-violently and in 
accordance with the constitution.  The Ambassador will see 
the Foreign Minister and repeat the same message at 1700 
November 3.  End comment.) 
 
¶8. (SBU) The tape purports to be a recording of opposition 
leaders planning to seize government buildings, take over 
regional administrations, and block roads around the country. 
 The quality of the tape, as played in Parliament and as 
heard over the Internet, is very poor.  According to the 
transcript, the following individuals are on the tape:  NGO 
leader Asiya Sasykbaeva, Edil Baisalov, Almaz Atambaeyev, MP 
Omurbek Tekebayev, MP Melis Eshimkanov, MP Bolotbek 
Sherniyazov, MP Temir Sariyev, MP Kanybek Imanaliyev, MP 
Kabay Karabekov, former Ambassador Roza Otunbayeva, Adilet 
Legal Clinic director Cholpon Jakupova, Rakhan Irsaliyev, and 
three unidentified persons. 
 
¶9. (C) SNB Chair Maj. Gen. Murat Sutalinov denied that the 
SNB had anything to do with obtaining the tape; he said that 
a For Reforms member had delivered it to the government. 
Presidential Chief of Staff Myktybek Abdyldayev reportedly 
told the crowd of protesters at KTR (see paragraph 11) that 
Prime Minister Kulov had approved the wiretapping of the 
opposition leaders.  Mid-afternoon on November 3, Prime 
Minister Kulov's press officer contacted the Embassy, trying 
to track down a rumor that international organizations had 
copies of the transcript before the Prime Minister revealed 
the tape in Parliament in the morning, and worried Kulov may 
have been set up with a fake.  We replied that we did not 
have the transcript ahead of time. 
 
Rally Continues Overnight 
------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) In the evening of November 2, two large truckloads 
of food were delivered to the protesters on Ala-too Square. 
Following dinner, the crowd dissipated.  Approximately 500 
opposition protesters remained on the square overnight, 
staying in approximately 60 small tents, 40 medium-sized 
tents, and four yurts set up on the south side of the square. 
 In the morning of November 3, the crowd grew to 
approximately 1000 demonstrators (and numerous onlookers). 
Law enforcement personnel, numbering in the hundreds, 
remained in the vicinity of the square throughout the morning. 
 
Opposition to Get Airtime 
------------------------- 
 
¶11. (C) At 1300 local November 3, approximately 600-700 
protesters left the square and marched to City Hall, where 
they demanded that the mayor resign.  From there, the 
protesters marched to the state-owned KTR television studios, 
 
BISHKEK 00001554  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
where they demanded to meet with KTR officials.  Edil 
Baisalov told poloff that they wanted airtime in the evening 
to explain the tape.  KTR has reportedly agreed to give the 
opposition airtime from 1900 to 2100 
 
President to Present Constitution Draft November 6 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶12. (C) Presidential Deputy Chief of Staff Medet Sadyrkulov 
told the Ambassador November 3 that President Bakiyev would 
present a new draft of a constitution to Parliament on 
November 6.  He said that opposition MPs had refused to 
participate in a small working group to finalize the draft, 
but the President was moving forward with the draft 
nevertheless.  Sadyrkulov said that the tape of the 
opposition had been made on the evening of November 2, and he 
had no doubts as to its authenticity.  He also dismissed 
Madumarov's contention that the tape indicated foreign 
involvement in the protest.  Sadyrkulov said he thought the 
opposition would try to drag out the protest, but that people 
were losing interest.  He said that despite the fact that the 
tape showed "huge provocation," the government was trying to 
resolve the situation without "creating winners and losers." 
 
Demonstration at Regional Offices 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) In the afternoon of November 3, approximately 80-90 
demonstrators took over the administrative offices of 
Alamudun Rayon, near Bishkek.  The takeover was peaceful.  As 
of 1600, the demonstrators were talking with the Akim (local 
administrator), and an Embassy patrol reported that there 
were approximately 25 MVD militia on site, but the situation 
was calm.  As of 1700, we understand that the demonstrators 
have been removed from the building without incident.  We 
also understand that there was a peaceful demonstration 
involving approximately 200 protesters in front of the 
administrative offices in Talas. 
 
Situation at 1700, November 3 
----------------------------- 
 
¶14. (SBU) As of 1700, the crowd was growing again on Ala-too 
Square, with approximately 2000 demonstrators present.  In 
addition, there was an increased number of militia present, 
and the National Guard had deployed around the White House. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶15. (C) The protest has remained peaceful, but the situation 
remains unpredictable.  Just as the protest appeared to be 
slowing down, there was the demonstration in Talas, the 
peaceful seizure of an administrative building near Bishkek, 
and the crowd in Ala-too Square appears to be growing 
slightly.  We expect that a small number of protesters will 
maintain their vigil in Ala-too Square overnight.  The 
politics of the situation are heating up, with the latest 
charges that the opposition was planning to seize power.  We 
have our doubts about the tape, but whether or not it is 
authentic, it has forced opposition leaders to divide their 
energies between defending themselves from the charges and 
pushing forward with the protest.  The tape may also serve to 
divide the opposition.  Edil Baisalov told us that some 
elements in the opposition did, in fact, envision occupying 
government buildings, while the majority of them were 
genuinely seeking reform.  He claimed that MP Kubatbek 
Baibolov had met with the President earlier in the day to 
assure him that the majority of the opposition wanted to work 
toward compromise. 
 
YOVANOVITCH