VZCZCXRO2533
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSK RUEHVK
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DE RUEHEK #1222/01 3450844
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 100844Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1584
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0073
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2777
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RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3168
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2554
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
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RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001222 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ TV PULLS RFE/RL OFF THE AIR, AVOIDS EMBASSY 
 
BISHKEK 00001222  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Kyrgyz National Television and Radio Company 
(KTR) suspended broadcasting of RFE/RL radio and television 
programming on October 8, ostensibly due to non-payment by the 
International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB).  However, IBB has since 
confirmed that its electronic funds transfer reached KTR.  KTR 
Director Melis Eshimkanov has been "too busy" to meet with the 
Embassy to discuss the issue, but he told the press December 5 that 
he ordered the suspension of RFE/RL programming on contractual 
grounds.  Despite KRT's actions, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz-language Radio 
Azattyk programming continues to be broadcast on private FM station 
in parts of Kyrgyzstan, including in Bishkek.  End Summary. 
 
KTR SUSPENDS RFE/RL PROGRAMMING 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On October 8, the Kyrgyz National Television and Radio 
Company (KTR) stopped transmitting RFE/RL's Kyrgyz0-language Radio 
Azattyk programming, as well as Azattyk TV.  (Note:  Radio Azattyk 
continues to be broadcast through private FM radio stations.  See 
paragraph 6, below.  End Note.)  Coincidentally, KTR pulled the plug 
when Azattyk was advertising a special program on the results of 
Kyrgyzstan's October 5 local elections.  KTR claimed that RFE/RL and 
IBB had not made payments required under their broadcasting 
agreement.  For several months preceding KTR's move to cut off 
RFE/RL programming, IBB attempted to transfer payment electronically 
but was told by KTR that the money did not come through.  KTR 
provided incorrect bank account information to IBB five times, and 
five times IBB unsuccessfully attempted to transfer payment.  In 
October, IBB was finally able to confirm that KTR had received the 
money.  Nevertheless, KTR pulled RFE/RL programming off the air 
claiming non-payment. 
 
ESHIMKANOV "TOO BUSY" TO MEET WITH EMBASSY 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) Embassy has tried repeatedly to meet with KTR Director 
Melis Eshimkanov to discuss the suspension of RFE/RL programming. 
Most recently, Eshimkanov's deputy told us that Eshimkanov is "too 
busy" planning KTR's fiftieth anniversary gala and asked us to call 
back on December 11. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Eshimkanov is also busy with challenges from KTR staff.  In 
late November, several leading KTR reporters and managers gave a 
press conference and interviews accusing Eshimkanov of bad 
management and embezzlement.  Over 300 KTR employees submitted a 
petition on November 26, in which they stated that Eshimkanov 
"contravened human and management norms and aggravated the social 
situation in KTR to an unbearable point."  On December 3, a group 
that included several KTR TV stars erected a yurt in a local park 
and began a hunger strike.  The yurt was quickly dismantled by the 
militia, but protestors are planning another anti-Eshimkanov 
protest.  Assol Moldokmatova, local celebrity and protest leader, 
accused Eshimkanov of sexual harassment.  Eshimkanov has not 
publicly reacted to the protests and accusations.  He has said he is 
too busy with KTR's 50-year anniversary gala. 
 
BBC HOPES TO BE BACK ON AIR SOON 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) On December 5, Eshimkanov publicly announced the suspension 
of the BBC's local service, also citing contractual grounds.  The 
BBC has responded by sending a delegation from London, which arrived 
in Bishkek December 9.  Despite Eshimkanov's busy schedule, he has 
agreed to meet with the delegation on December 10.  He has also 
reportedly promised to put the BBC back on the air on December 10. 
 
SOME RFE/RL PROGRAMMING UNAFFECTED 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) While KTR cut off RFE/RL'S Kyrgyz-language services, Radio 
Azattyk and Azattyk TV, Radio Azattyk continues to be available 
 
BISHKEK 00001222  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
through private FM stations:  Radio Almaz and Parliament (Bishkek), 
Radio Most (Talas), Radio LW (Karakol), Radio Almaz-Naryn, and Radio 
Salam (Batken).  It is also available online and through satellites 
(HotBird-8 and AsiaSat 3).  From time-to-time, Azattyk has been 
unavailable or been broadcast with a weak signal, but the Director 
of Radio Almaz explained that those were simply technical problems. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment:  Eshimkanov has declined to meet with the Embassy 
to discuss the suspension of RFE/RL programming, and his office 
would not confirm a meeting when RFE/RL proposed to send a 
delegation from Prague.  We have raised concerns about the 
suspension with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we will 
continue to raise this with other members of the government.  While 
Radio Azattyk is still available in parts of Kyrgyzstan, 
re-broadcasting on KTR gave nationwide coverage for Azattyk 
programming. 
 
LITZENBERGER