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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001337 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ INVESTIGATION INTO SAIPOV KILLING CONTINUES 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 1320 
     ¶B. TASHKENT 1896 
 
BISHKEK 00001337  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  The Kyrgyz law enforcement investigation 
continues into the October 24 killing of journalist Alisher 
Saipov.  The two most popular theories place blame either on 
the Uzbek security services or on Islamic extremist 
organizations Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) or the Islamic Movement of 
Uzbekistan (IMU).  The Kyrgyz Ministry of Interior's (MVD) 
official line is that it is pursuing all theories, but MVD 
officers appear to be leaking information about the 
investigation purporting to tie Saipov to extremist Islamic 
organizations.  GKNB Chairman Sutalinov told the Ambassador 
that Saipov had a large number of IMU and HT contacts in his 
computer files, and investigators were focusing on these 
connections.  Kyrgyz police and security service personnel 
are also reportedly pulling in journalists in the Osh area 
for questioning and threatening some with criminal 
prosecution over their press coverage of the murder.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Journalists Demand Greater Protection 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Kyrgyz journalists and civil society leaders 
continue to point the finger at the Uzbek security services, 
and Saipov's murder has prompted calls for greater protection 
for journalists.  Over 100 journalists and human rights 
activists demonstrated in front of MVD headquarters in 
Bishkek October 26, demanding a swift and transparent 
investigation into Saipov's murder.  Later that day at a 
roundtable discussion, journalists and activists spoke about 
the risks taken by human rights defenders.  Most speculated 
that the Uzbek security services were behind Saipov's murder, 
and they decried the lack of protection by Kyrgyz authorities 
against threats posed by Uzbek security services operating 
within Kyrgyzstan. 
 
¶3. (SBU) During another civil society forum October 31, 
journalists and activists raised concerns about recent 
beatings of journalists and the assassination of Saipov, and 
they complained that harassment of civil society and the 
press has increased beyond that seen during the Akayev years. 
 One presenter claimed that every journalist in Osh Oblast 
had a "kurator" in the security services who regularly 
inquires about journalists' contacts.  The forum drafted a 
petition to President Bakiyev demanding greater protection 
for journalists and activists. 
 
Suspicion about U.S. Support 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) GKNB Chairman Murat Sutalinov told the Ambassador 
October 30 that investigators had found a large number of HT 
and IMU contacts listed in Saipov's computer.  Sutalinov said 
that MVD investigators were now focusing their attention on 
these connections. 
 
¶5. (C) On October 31, Deputy Foreign Minister Taalay Kydyrov 
raised Saipov's alleged connections to these extremist 
organizations and asked the Ambassador whether it was true 
that the U.S. government had been funding him.  (Note: 
Saipov's Valley Media Group received a grant of $26,500 in 
2007 from the National Endowment for Democracy to support the 
Uzbek-language newspaper Siyosat.  End Note.)  Kydyrov said 
that U.S. support for Saipov was the sort of thing that 
created suspicion among some in the Kyrgyz government about 
U.S. intentions in the country, and it had fueled concerns 
over U.S. democracy programs generally. 
 
MVD:  Following All Leads 
------------------------- 
 
BISHKEK 00001337  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶6. (C) The MVD's official line is that it is continuing to 
investigate all theories, and MVD has released very little 
official information about the case.  Press reports citing 
unnamed MVD officials claimed that the police had 
"established who killed Saipov" and begun a nationwide 
manhunt, and that MVD had linked the "three suspects" to HT. 
Similar reports from AKIpress stated that ballistics experts 
matched the 9mm bullet casings found at the scene of the 
shooting with those found at other crime scenes.  Reuters 
quoted MVD spokesman Bakyt Seyitov acknowledging "the 
possibility of involvement of Uzbek security services" 
because of Saipov's criticism of Karimov, but Interfax cited 
Osh MVD official, Zamir Sadykov, as saying "there is no proof 
or reason to believe that Uzbekistan's secret services were 
involved."  MVD's press office told us that any comments 
alleging Uzbek government, HT, or IMU involvement, were 
merely "personal views" and "not the official line of the 
MVD." 
 
MVD Leaks to Press Tie Saipov to Extremists 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Despite the official line, MVD officers appear to be 
leaking selective information about the investigation, 
including information about Saipov's alleged ties to Islamic 
extremist organizations such as HT and the IMU, as well as 
information about Saipov's political activities.  An October 
31 AKIpress article quoted unnamed MVD officials alleging 
that Saipov received funding from Islamic extremist groups 
and from the Uzbek opposition party Erk.  According to the 
article, leaders of HT admitted to having close ties with 
Saipov and "being interviewed by him about activities of the 
party."  The article also said that Saipov had harbored the 
alleged leader of Andijon events, Kabul Parpiev, in his home 
and had helped him escape to Kazakhstan. 
 
¶8. (C) Police reportedly searched Saipov's office and 
apartment and found anti-Karimov leaflets, HT brochures and 
files on his computer, and Uzbek opposition newspapers. 
According to investigators, ethnic Uzbek/UK national 
journalist Shahida Tulaganova delivered anti-Karimov 
leaflets, large sums of money, and other Erk party materials 
on several occasions to Saipov in Osh.  Officials stated that 
these items were sent by exiled Erk party leader Muhammad 
Solikh.  (Note:  Tulaganova told us that she had, in fact, 
delivered a bag of Erk party materials to Saipov, and she 
acknowledged this to MVD investigators when they questioned 
her.  End Note.)  Investigators sealed off Saipov's office 
and confiscated computers and mobile phones. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Journalists and civil society leaders expressed fear 
that Saipov's list of contacts would be passed by Kyrgyz 
authorities to their Uzbek counterparts.  Other press 
reports, including the ferghana.ru website, accused the 
Kyrgyz government of trying to smear Saipov by linking him to 
extremist organizations. 
 
Investigators Question Journalists 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) In Osh, Kyrgyz police and security service personnel 
are reportedly questioning journalists in connection with 
Saipov's murder.  The manager of the Osh Media Resource 
Center (MRC), Maksuda Aitiyeva, contacted the Embassy October 
30 to request legal assistance for journalists set to be 
questioned by the Kyrgyz authorities.  Aitiyeva said that a 
large portion of the MRC's 205 registered journalists were 
being called in for questioning by the MVD and GKNB.  Those 
already questioned had complained of rude and intimidating 
treatment, and investigators reportedly threatened to arrest 
the MRC office manager for sharing information about Saipov 
to unauthorized persons.  MVD officials also reportedly 
threatened to prosecute staff of Mezon TV, a local station in 
 
BISHKEK 00001337  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
Osh, for airing a commemoration show about Saipov.  (Note: 
In partnership with the OSCE Center in Bishkek, the Embassy 
immediately provided a grant to the MRC to hire a lawyer to 
conduct trainings for journalists to explain their rights 
under questioning as well as legal advice about for what they 
could be prosecuted for reporting under Kyrgyz law.  End 
Note.) 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶11. (C) Senior Kyrgyz officials have been relatively quiet 
about Saipov's murder.  Aside from rude comments from State 
Secretary Madumarov (amounting to "journalists are shot in 
 
SIPDIS 
many countries; why all the fuss?"), and Ombudsman Bakir uluu 
(who said that Saipov may have been killed by the security 
services of another country), other officials haven't 
commented publicly.  While the press is filled with stories 
(and sometimes wild speculation) about the case, the official 
government news agency, Kabar, has put out only one article. 
 
¶12. (C) Saipov's murder has alarmed journalists and civil 
society activists, who fear for their own safety.  It is an 
open secret that the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border is easily crossed in 
many places, and GKNB Chairman Sutalinov openly acknowledged 
this to Ambassador.  Many activists suspect that Uzbek 
security services have previously carried out operations on 
the Kyrgyz side of the border (with or without the 
cooperation of Kyrgyz officials), but Saipov's murder has 
brought these concerns out in the open.  Saipov had 
connections to extremist groups (he openly reported on these 
groups), but the MVD leaks and Sutalinov's comments seem 
designed to paint a more sinister connection.  It is not 
clear, at this point, where the investigation ultimately will 
lead.  However, with an already difficult relationship 
between the two countries, sensitive elections in December in 
both countries, and upcoming gas negotiations, there is 
concern that a political decision not to rock the boat will 
lead to a manufactured result.  And, Kydyrov's comments make 
clear that the Kyrgyz government could use the case as a 
reason to push for greater scrutiny of U.S. democracy 
programming. 
YOVANOVITCH