VZCZCXRO5327
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSK
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #0663 1730536
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220536Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2362
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3131
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1418
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3466
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2852
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS BISHKEK 000663 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: Kyrgyz Election Campaigning Officially Begins 
 
Ref:  Bishkek 656 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  Three of the six registered candidates held 
campaign events on June 18, the first day of the campaign season. 
President Bakiyev opened his campaign with a speech in Talas to 
about 5,000 government workers -- minus some potential 
troublemakers, while the opposition UPM released their candidate's 
platform in front of a tepidly enthusiastic crowd of 200 in Bishkek. 
 Opposition candidate Temir Sariyev campaigned in Jalalabad, and 
encountered some resistance from local Bakiyev supporters.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U)  Three of the six registered candidates held campaign events 
on June 18, the first day of the campaign season.  There will be no 
additional candidates:  On June 17, the Supreme Court upheld the 
Central Election Commission's decision that Akbaraly Aitikeev had 
not met the requirements to register as a presidential candidate. 
 
Bakiyev Opens Campaign at National Site 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  President Bakiyev opened his campaign in Talas Oblast 
with a speech to about 5,000 people at the Manas Ordo complex, a 
massive site that celebrates the epic of Kyrgyz hero Manas. 
Opposition newspapers reported that most of the attendees were 
school teachers and government workers bused in for a command 
performance.  A United People's Movement (UPM) spokesperson said 
that five UPM members, and a number of other people, were arrested 
as they attempted to enter the site wearing Atambayev shirts. 
Whether the arrestees have been released or charged is not yet 
clear. 
 
Curbed Enthusiasm at UPM Sendoff 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Embassy observed a June 18 presentation of UPM candidate 
Atambayev's platform.  The event was held at the Social Democrat 
Party Headquarters, and attracted an audience of about 200.  UPM 
leaders, including Ata Meken leader Omurbek Tekebayev, and Social 
Democrat MPs Bakyt Beshimov and Roza Otunbayeva gave short speeches. 
 Tekebayev garnered the most applause, ending with the slogan, 
"Together we can do it!," but a subsequent attempt by MP Irina 
Karamushkina to get the crowd to chant the slogan fizzled. 
Atambayev himself was not present at the meeting.  Organizers 
reported that he was campaigning in Jalalabad Oblast. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Atambayev's platform criticizes Bakiyev for recreating 
the system of family rule that characterized previous President 
Akayev's administration, and promises a new system of government 
with strong controls on corruption and executive authority. 
 
Some Pushback on Sariyev Campaign 
--------------------------------- 
¶6.  (SBU)  According to a contact in the Temir Sariyev campaign, 
Sariyev elected to open his campaign in the southern Jalalabad 
Oblast, an area generally considered to be broadly supportive of 
President Bakiyev.  Sariyev then plans to move on to Batken Oblast. 
The contact reported that the campaign is not facing "substantial 
impediments," but they have not yet been allowed to rent billboards, 
and some of their campaign workers in Jalalabad have been 
threatened, leading to one resignation. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) With the campaign having officially started, we will now 
see how well-prepared the candidates are for the campaign and how 
extensively administrative resources are deployed for the benefit of 
incumbent President Bakiyev.  Embassy will continue to monitor and 
report developments. 
 
LITZENBERGER