VZCZCXRO9233
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #0963/01 2670955
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 230955Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1371
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2666
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3055
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2440
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000963 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT:  Kyrgyz Press and Public Opinion Still Overwhelmingly 
Pro-Russian in the Georgia Conflict 
 
BISHKEK 00000963  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Forty days after the beginning of the Georgian 
conflict, opinions on the conflict in the Kyrgyz media are 
resoundingly pro-Russian.  Reader reactions to an Embassy op-ed 
indicate that the U.S. version of events has little support.  On the 
contrary, the events in Georgia appear to be deepening anti-American 
sentiment, as the U.S. is widely blamed for so-called "Georgian 
aggression."  End summary. 
 
40 DAYS LATER:  REFLECTING ON THE CONFLICT 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) September 16th marked the fortieth day anniversary of the 
beginning of the conflict in Georgia and South Ossetia.  (Comment: 
In the cultures of the post-Soviet states, the fortieth day after 
death is commemorated.)  Kyrgyz newspaper "Moy Mikrorayon," a new, 
independent paper, published a pro-Russian, analytical article on 
the conflict and an editorial supporting Russia.  In the editorial, 
it wrote that Russia was "protecting peaceful people from Georgian 
aggression."  Accompanying the editorial were the results of an 
online public opinion poll, "Should Kyrgyzstan Officially Recognize 
the Independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia?"  The survey 
resulted in a 94% positive response. 
 
U.S. PORTRAYED AS AN "EMPIRE OF EVIL" 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) "Beliy Parus," a pro-Russian newspaper, published a series 
of articles during the month of September calling the U.S. an 
"Empire of Evil," and claiming thousands of South Ossetians had died 
at the hands of Georgian "puppets."  One article claimed that the 
U.S. used Georgia in its quest for world domination.  The article 
listed the countries the U.S. has already "attacked" (Iraq, 
Afghanistan, and Yugoslavia) and those that the U.S. allegedly has 
its sights on (Uzbekistan, Iran, and China). 
 
READERS DISAGREE WITH EMBASSY OP-ED 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Post placed a Department-approved op-ed on Georgia in the 
largest daily newspaper, independent "Vecherniy Bishkek."  The 
newspaper published the op-ed on September 3.  This article ran 
directly across from an op-ed by the Russian ambassador to 
Kyrgyzstan, defending the official Russian position on recognition 
of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. 
 
¶5. (SBU) On September 8, the newspaper published 
letters-to-the-editor in response to the op-eds.  All seven letters 
supported the Russian position, saying "The U.S. is determined to 
destabilize the CIS and Eurasia," "Saakashvili is paid by the State 
Department," and "In Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yugoslavia, 
and everywhere, the U.S. has imposed its world order without taking 
into consideration the opinion of the world community, and despite 
UN resolutions."  Not one letter supported the U.S. version of 
events. 
 
GEORGIANS: "CLOWNS" IN NEW COLD WAR? 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶6. (SBU) On September 23, independent, Kyrgyz-language newspaper 
"Kyrgyz Ruhu" ("Kyrgyz Spirit"), published an article entitled 
"Georgians are Clowns in the New Cold War," by former Press 
Secretary for the General Prosecutor's Office and now independent 
analyst, Toktogul Kakchekeev.  The article was very emotional and 
was "dedicated to the memory of the victims of Georgian aggression 
in Abkhazia and South Ossetia."  The article accused the U.S. of 
"trying to carve up the world using the knives of colonialism or 
globalization under the nice sauce of democracy, freedom, human 
rights, freedom of press, and rule of law.  But behind the facade of 
these attractions there is an eternal rule of redistribution, 
economic dependence, and loss of real sovereignty." 
 
 
BISHKEK 00000963  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
FEW COMMENTATORS SUPPORT U.S. POSITION 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) There has only been one article in recent weeks that 
supports the U.S. position on the situation in South Ossetia and 
Akhazia.  Unsurprisingly, the article was published in a 
Kyrgyz-language newspaper (Comment:  Kyrgyz newspapers tend to have 
more independent voices than the Russian language papers).  The 
article featured an interview with an independent analyst (and 
alumnus of a Marshall Center program) who compared the situation in 
South Ossetia with Russia's war in Chechnya:  "Chechens wanted 
independence but were heavily suppressed and remained part of 
Russia.  When Georgians tried to demonstrate the same policy towards 
Ossetia, they were told they couldn't do it.  So, Russia can do it, 
Georgia cannot.  Russia can protect its territorial integrity, 
Georgia cannot."  The article referred to Russian "lies" and 
"disinformation," saying "We don't get any information from Georgia 
- we only get information from the Russian media."  The article 
concluded that Russia's harsh treatment of Georgia is retribution 
for Georgia's desire to join NATO. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment:  The pro-Russian reaction to the events in Georgia 
is unsurprising, given the fact that the overwhelming majority of 
Kyrgyz get their news from Russia.  There are very few public, 
dissenting voices, and few independent media outlets. 
 
GFOELLER