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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001586 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ASEC KG
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT PASSES, PRESIDENT SIGNS NEW KYRGYZ 
CONSTITUTION; PROTEST TURNS TO CELEBRATION 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 1571 
     ¶B. BISHKEK 1566 
     ¶C. BISHKEK 1565 
     ¶D. BISHKEK 1554 
     ¶E. BISHKEK 1551 
     ¶F. BISHKEK 1548 
     ¶G. BISHKEK 1537 STATE 180495 
 
BISHKEK 00001586  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  Late on November 8, the Kyrgyz Parliament 
adopted a new constitution that appears to limit the powers 
of the president and to increase the role of the parliament. 
On November 9, President Bakiyev signed the new constitution 
into effect, although under the terms of the agreement both 
the President and Parliament will remain in office until 
their terms end in 2010.  This latest draft was the product 
of a "reconciliation group" with members from the government 
and the Parliament and co-chaired by State Secretary 
Madumarov and Speaker Sultanov.  The agreement on a new 
constitution has effectively ended the opposition's 
"indefinite" protest on Ala-too Square, as the rally has 
turned into a "victory celebration."  The pro-government 
rally in front of the Parliament building ended early in the 
afternoon.  The compromise on a new constitution removes the 
most contentious grievance of the opposition, but numerous 
other issues remain, and the long struggle between President 
Bakiyev and the opposition is far from over.  Nevertheless, 
people in Bishkek are in a celebratory mood, glad that the 
struggle ended peacefully, and in a compromise.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Parliament Adopts New Constitution 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Late on November 8, the Kyrgyz Parliament voted to 
adopt amendments to the constitution that substantially 
changed the structure of the Kyrgyz government.  The "new" 
constitution appears to reduce the powers of the president, 
while expanding the role of the parliament.  Under its 
provisions, the president loses his authority to appoint the 
prime minister and ministers, and all ministries will be 
under the prime minister.  The parliament will expand from 75 
to 90 members, half elected by party list and half from 
single-member constituencies.  The majority party in 
parliament will nominate the prime minister and form the 
government.  President Bakiyev signed the amendments into 
effect on November 9, but under the provisions of the 
agreement, the president and the members of parliament will 
remain in office until their terms expire in 2010.  (Note: 
Post has examined the Russian text of the new constitution, 
and our preliminary analysis of the changes will be reported 
septel.  End Note.) 
 
Protest Turns into Celebration 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) Following the midnight vote in Parliament on 
November 8, the opposition protest in Ala-too Square quickly 
turned into a celebration, with demonstrators setting off 
fireworks and music playing to the crowd.  Opposition leaders 
addressed the crowd, calling the compromise a victory for the 
protesters.  The celebratory atmosphere continued on November 
9 after President Bakiyev signed the constitution into 
effect.  Demonstrators began dismantling their tents on 
Ala-too Square, and families, women, and children began to 
join the crowd.  By 16:00 local, there was a crowd of 
approximately 5000 on the square, listening to speeches and 
music.  Speakers told that crowd that they could go home 
confident that they had achieved a victory.  The 
pro-government demonstration on nearby Old Square had also 
ended by mid-afternoon, with the yurts dismantled and only a 
handful of die-hard protesters on the square.  And after a 
week of mild, sunny weather, temperatures dropped and rain 
 
BISHKEK 00001586  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
clouds formed, portending a rapid end to the demonstration -- 
now a street party -- tonight. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶4. (C) Adoption of a new constitution has brought to a 
peaceful conclusion the week-long opposition demonstration. 
Both government and opposition figures have portrayed this 
compromise on the constitution as a victory, and the 
opposition can rightly claim that it forced change through 
non-violent protest.  Opposition leader MP Omurbek Tekebayev 
hailed the compromise, but groused that the price of the 
compromise was that both Bakiyev and Kulov get to remain in 
office until the end of their terms.  And while the 
constitutional issues appear to be settled (though much will 
depend on implementation), many other issues remain 
unresolved, such as the demand to turn state television into 
public television, and the demand to remove Bakiyev's 
relatives from office.  Nevertheless, people in Bishkek are 
in a celebratory mood, glad that the struggle ended 
peacefully, and in a compromise. 
 
YOVANOVITCH