At the round table in Bishkek was a list demanding the investigation of acts of ex-President of Kyrgyzstan Atambaev. But the willingness of the new President Zheenbekov to “mistakes” have doubts.
Are the team of the current President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Zheenbekov to “work on mistakes”, if by “mistakes” to understand those violations in which the suspect is surrounded by its predecessor, Almazbek Atambayev? And there are allegations of corruption and harassment of political opponents and, as said by the famous Kyrgyz lawyer Clara Sooronkulova usurpation of power. The interviewee DW after the round table held in Bishkek, a group of activists and the Kyrgyz Committee for the defence of prisoners ‘ rights on November 13 reported that after the election of the President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Zheenbekov the public expected him to do “more humane attitude to the issue of political prisoners” and their rehabilitation.
Political repression, usurpation of power and corruption in Kyrgyzstan
“It needs a political decision, but from the President it is not. And today we talked about the fact that the Parliament – when the government policy is still changed, and it’s no pressure – it is necessary to raise the issue of political evaluation of this situation, and to point out the main cause of political repression – the usurpation of power,” said Clara Sooronkulova.
At the same time, she emphasizes the connection between political repression, according to her, implemented in Kyrgyzstan during the reign of Almazbek Atambayev, and corruption. “Repression was partly associated with self-interest, and the then opposition leader, Omurbek Tekebayev and others raised the issue of corrupt practices at the highest level,” said former judge of the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan.
OpenDemocracy report on corruption in Kyrgyzstan and it Tekebayev
At the end of October, the British media resource openDemocracy (OD), which has been leading its own investigation, including in Central Asia, has published a report on corruption connected with government Almazbek Atambayev. “The report OD long list of corruption schemes, which allegedly involved the former President. “Possible” – because within the court, the investigation has not been conducted. So while we are talking about the fact that these cases were thoroughly investigated,” – said in an interview with DW Director of NGO “Eurasian democratic initiative” Peter Zalmaev.
The list of corruption stories in the reign of the state
“The mere fact that Tekebayev in a few minutes in jail, unbiased person will tell a lot. “Eurasian democratic initiative” carried out a fairly thorough study of his case, found there many procedural violations and released on his report. The case must be reviewed in accordance with international standards”, – says Zalmai. However, while signals from the official Bishkek in this direction no. Although there are many Kyrgyz activists who are concerned, and on the activities of the UN and the OSCE – for example, in September at the summit of the OSCE ODIHR in Warsaw, discusses the imprisonment of the main opposition politician in the country.
During its short reign, Sooronbai Jeenbekov was removed from the government many confidants of his predecessor, and several of them were under investigation. In fact, this is stated in the report OD lists a corruption case related to Atambayev and require thorough investigation. Here’s a partial list: construction on the territory of the presidential residence villas with dubious financing and on the availability of building permits, the story of a tenancy Uganda helicopters of defense of Kyrgyzstan, accompanied the construction of the highway “Bishkek – Osh” corruption, scandal with a contract issued by a small Czech firm for the completion of the upper-Naryn cascade of HPPs and at least a scandal with the accident at the CHPP of Bishkek after its upgrading carried out by the Chinese firm. These cases involved persons from the inner circle of the former President. So Sooronbai Jeenbekov ready to “work on mistakes”?
Why the new government in Bishkek to prosecute former officials?
However, Clara Sooronkulova offers no hurry with this conclusion. “We are now preparing an appeal, which say that if a successor state has been identifying glaring facts from the persons closest to former President, then it should be the General policy of the state as such. But my personal opinion is that, despite a certain confrontation between Sooronbai Jeenbekov and Almazbek Atambayev between them have personal agreements that some themes will not rise. First and foremost, the theme of political repression”, – says well-known lawyer.
“And the anti-corruption struggle connected with self-interest of people came to power. For example, under the contracts with China. There is quite a tough credit conditions. I think that if the case is brought to conviction against former officials, the current government will be the basis of referring it to say that at the time, those people are illegally entered into contracts and commitments necessary to postpone, or to renegotiate deals,” she said.
The case for approximate Atambayev is a double – edged sword, and warns Peter Zalmaev. “Arrests of a number of persons close to the European Union, including the mayor of Bishkek of Albek Ibrahimov, and a number of high-profile resignations of his men gave the grounds to say that the new President is willing to fight left him a legacy of corruption, and gave hope that the political case against Atambayev’s opponents will be revised. But the alarming information that the entourage of the current President has a fairly close relationship with the rest of the country by supporters of ex-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, svergnutogo and fled Kyrgyzstan in 2010. And now it is the “Bakiyev” people seeing the “green light”, striving for power. But Bakiyev’s government was highly corrupt. Therefore, the conclusions in the acute clan fighting to do before, and external researchers have to be very careful not to become tools in this internal struggle in Kyrgyzstan, where bills are reduced and there is a redistribution of property and influence,” – said the expert.
In the above-mentioned report OD also noted a gradual return Bakiyev to power. The latest confirmation of this, according to OD – the appointment of construction tycoon Aziz Surakmatov mayor of Bishkek. OD expressed concern that under the rule of Sooronbay Zheenbekov, Kyrgyzstan will continue the same play as when Atambaeva, “but with other actors.”
Why is the new President of Kyrgyzstan recognizes the mistakes of predecessors, but does not fix them?