The opposition leader accuses Kyrgyz President in assassination plot.

Ryskeldi Satke - The information on illegal wiretapping and surveillance programs against political opponents authorized by Bakiev regime was known to us before the presidential elections (July 23, 2009). Notably, assassinated Sadyrkulov’s close associates confirmed a fact of active surveillance aftermath of his death. Upon your arrival to USA from Kyrgyz Republic, recently you mentioned hostile actions taken by the Kyrgyz Government against you at the meeting with journalists and representatives of John Hopkins University in Washington, DC. Would you clarify in details what exactly happened?

Bakyt Beshimov - There was a whole system of tracking my movement in the Kyrgyz Republic. Due to safety reasons for those ( State employees ) who alerted me, I can only give a partial specifics of this. It would be enough to say that wiretapping and surveillance has been conducted by Counter Intelligence Department of GKNB ( renamed and transformed Kyrgyz KGB ) and Special Unit of the State Security Service of the Kyrgyz Republic. Head of the GKNB, Mr. Sutalinov, directly threatened me in May of 2009, during session of the Parliament, saying: "We are closely working on you, already and soon it’ll be over.” It was said so frankly and arrogantly. Incidentally, this scene was shown on NTS Bishkek TV channel the same evening without comments. My wife and I constantly observed some people following us everywhere. Specifically, surveillance intensified in the last six months prior to my departure. We have been notified by different sources known to us that State Security Agencies were trying so hard to find any compromising material on me.

They were researching my work and desperately trying to find something to open a criminal case. They also tried to organize a smear campaign against me using my personal files through writers such as Bogdanov and Chroroev with a newspaper "Tribune" and xexpress. kg website. But, in principle, these so-called writers have been performing for somebody else. Here is how their "work" assessed by parliamentarian from majority “Ak Zhol” Party, Mrs. Kulikova: "I am getting a holiday issue of the Tribune newspaper where my colleague Bakyt Beshimov is against the backdrop of the American flag. I read the preamble to the article: Beshimov, member of the ≪Моя ; стра ;на≫ (My Country) Party which was supervised by Bermet Akayeva ( Thrown former president Askar Akaev’s daughter ), etc. and I have no confidence in article, right then. I read it and understand that it is a lie. " http://www.ipp.kg/ru/analys is/768/

The same performance was done by number of the so-called opposition newspapers. But in fact it has been done by Special Services of the Bakiev regime. Several times, I was finding that someone broke into my office and went through work files. Many files concerning energy industry crisis, drug trafficking, illegal commercial deals with Telecom ( Communication Enterprise ), human rights violations and kyrgyz internet space control have disappeared from my office. A few times I had a security device broken in my office in the mornings because someone was inside the office a night before going through my documents. They tried to get into my house as well, with some kind of technical repair or check. So, they were cutting the electrical wires outside the house and disabling the phone line along with internet , despite the fact that my account with Communication Carrier was in good standing. Some of that repair personnel behaved completely suspicious.

Relatives from my family were always in the house which is why they were not aggressive but recently our home was invaded and searched. What are they looking for anyway ? The office in Parliament was bugged with video and audio surveillance chips. Video cameras were installed in the ceiling chandelier and TV. Once we found out about this, they immediately took them off. It was useless to consult the Parliament on this matter. The state service automobile has been kept under their electronic and audio surveillance. One of my friends who is a tech specialist found and demonstrated “bugs” while doing car inspection. I tried to be careful and not to give any reasons for provocation. My official requests to the relevant authorities about illegal actions remain unanswered. There is indifference to this kind of things emerged in our society due to executive power abuse followed by manipulation of the justice system which is why numerous and fabricated high profile criminal cases against a political opposition and human rights defenders were forced including wiretapping and surveillance of the parliamentarians prior to 2005 “Tulip Revolution”, not to mention regular incidents with human rights defenders at Manas airport in Bishkek city.

Impunity corrupts people. They do not feel pain and suffering of others. It’s been extremely difficult for me to reach a justice while seeing ignorance all around. Here is a typical characteristic of utterance about this from Mrs. Blindina - Chief Editor of the newspaper “Chui Izvestia” : "When the attack occurred on Syrgak Abdyldaev (outspoken reporter who was stabbed 28 times in march 2009), I have made a telephone calls to colleagues editors and said that we have been working together for so many years in the same field. Such terrible incident happened to one of us, let’s address the issue of attacks on journalists to the President Bakiev. No one from the editors supported my initiative which was shocking to me." http://www. ipp/en/analysis/768/.

Complete surveillance was applied to all of my visitors and contact persons. They were intimidated. Many visitors told me gently then that they had a rough conversations with people from GKNB. They have been told not to contact Beshimov anymore, otherwise complications would occur. There has been number of attempts to hack my computer files and e-mail. There was not a single meeting with the voters during presidential election campaign without blatant GKNB, the Interior Affairs Ministry and local authorities interference. Number of times they were trying to cause provocative actions in public places, just to cause serious body harm to me and to my wife. In the Talas province of Western Kyrgyzstan, our friends alerted me and Roza Otunbaeva ( Member of the Social Democratic political faction in the Parliament ) of assassination attempt being set up warning our staff not to return to Bishkek city (Capital of Kyrgyz Republic) through the mountain pass where it was supposed to take a place. In march of 2009 there was an attempt to organize a car accident in Jalal-Abad province of Southern Kyrgyzstan. Direct and indirect threats in my address became a norm of my life in the last six months. GKNB’s provocative forgery with invitations from Hizb ut-Tahrir ( Sunni religious political party ) sent on my name had a purpose of creating restrictions on my travel around CIS ( Commonwealth of Independent States ) countries. ( Hizb ut-Tahrir members and associates included in a black list of illegal political parties in CIS )

There are many other examples of Bakiev regime actions but I can’t go into details of this because it could bring harm to good people who helped me to avoid direct risks. Unfortunately, I carelessly paid attention to security issues, not realizing that I was dealing with people who quite frankly had criminal intentions towards me.

Ryskeldi Satke - GKNB and General Prosecutor made a statement that there was no surveillance or persecution against you and they have not received requests from you on threats to your life.

Bakyt Beshimov - It’s their style - to deny everything and lie cynically, in the face. They want all accustomed to deception, as the norm of life. It is OK for them, because entangled in deception people will be as miserable little dog rubbing boots against the ruler.
I will answer you with a facts. On march 6 2009 , SDPK (Social Democrtaic Party of Kyrgyzstan) came out with official statement that there was assassination attempt through a car accident while I had a meeting with voters in the Jalal Abad province on march 3 2009.

The scheme, as we discovered later, was this: to a certain place, near the exit from the first tunnel on the highway Jalal Abad ? Bishkek, traffic police on several occasions stops my car and reports speeding. Then truck closes road, while the other truck slides my car off the highway into the ravine. The official version of the accident would have been confirmed by speeding reports from GAI (Traffic Police).
That day on march 3, 2009 , the police officer stopped my car for the third time and took away my chauffeur’s driver’s license without explanation leaving the scene quickly. I realized that there was a tragedy waiting for me up ahead. Thanks to some people in the Interior Affairs Ministry who gave me an important information at a time when I was trying to figure out, what to do next. For the organizers of the attempt it was a complete surprise that I turned around and took another direction. By the way, exactly a week later Sadyrkulov ( Former head of the Bakiev administration who later joined the opposition ) was killed in a "car accident".

On march 6, I had a press conference on this subject and gathered material with photos to the General Prosecutor. I have sent the documents with evidence including plate numbers of the automobiles that have followed me in Osh city and interfered with official work. No prosecution procedures were taken and no response from the leadership of Parliament, the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Interior Affairs Ministry.

Do you remember how they reacted to the press conference of the opposition about the scandalous statements from Mrs. Kabilova - former head of the Central Election Commission. All opposition members were summoned for questioning with opening a criminal case on us. Attorney General was trying to read a morality lecture of our civic responsibility to us. And all that because it was concerning the President Bakiev’s son.
But when the leader of the parliamentary faction makes a statement on assassination attempt, these state institutions at least have to do their job or question me and other witnesses. We have provided enough evidence about the incident. Instead , no reaction. If I’m lying and made up the allegations, they have the same great opportunity to expose me. But, they did nothing. This confirms our assumption that state officials are well aware of who and how it was planned to destroy the opposition. Is it possible that they know more than what we think?

I have sent official letters to the head of the GKNB with respect to the forged invitation from Hizb-ut-Tahrir, as well as illegal surveillance and special file collected on me, the misconduct of GKNB agents with residents in the town of Nookat ( torture and abuse of detained residents ). And what happened? All denied or no response at all. I corresponded for nearly two years on very significant issues with the General Prosecutor’s Office. You can read the letters online and you will find that General Prosecutor’s Office is not what it supposed to be representing law abiding citizens. This state body manipulates laws in the interests of the ruling family. Journalists and prominent human rights activists have been present at the meetings of the SDPK faction with the General Prosecutor, head of the Interior Affairs and director of GKNB, when those officials have always denied the obvious and called the black as white. I am accustomed to dealing with decent people, and I always found it unpleasant to look at these scenes of deception. But the bitter truth is that these are the present rulers of the country.

I have sent an official request by # 551-04-72 from 17/02/2009 addressed to the head of the State Security Service, Janysh Bakiev ( President Bakiev’s brother ) regarding the budget and powers of this service. No reply came back. Obviously, everything is confidential. Apparently, they have something to hide which is why they are afraid.

As you can see, I present the facts. Many of my parliamentary inquiries and answers available online and one can make clear conclusions. At the end of the answer to your question, recall the words of the counsel Luzhansky in the case of deceased Sadyrkulov: "Defense did not find a causal connection between the light crash of automobiles "Audi " with "Lexus " and the deaths of Lexus SUV passengers." Everybody can see that, the case is sewn with white thread. All except a few members of SDPK, murder was swallowed in silence. Moreover, yesterday’s allies of assassinated Sadyrkulov have become aggressive supporters of the current criminal regime. What good a society can expect from this "elite"?

Ryskeldi Satke - You have touched, previously, the subject of financial transactions and individuals involved in Bakiev family business as an example with Mr. Eliseev who happens to be a member of the Board of Directors of the "AziyaUniversal Bank, one of the main decision makers of the group Kyrgyzaltyn, a member of the State Committee for Relations with Canadian Centerra Gold Inc. and a member of the Central Election Commission. What is the Bakiev’s family financial flow lay out? and the degree of influence of this symbiosis on a scale of the internal politics in Kyrgyz Republic?

Bakyt Beshimov - Scheme of the Bakiev family financial flow requires a detailed analysis based on a thorough investigation. Thus far, I can say that there is a robbery of the state taking place in our country. The case of 23 million soms ( kyrgyz currency ), exempted from the national bank branch in Jalal Abad city in 2005, was never solved, while it is clear whose benefit it was done for, not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars! Robbery of the country comes with support or acquiescence of the majority of the current Kyrgyz establishment. This is a national disgrace. It indicates a very low level of national dignity of the establishment or its absence. The wealth of the country for 19 years has been taken away by all sorts of international adventurers and crooks. Along with the families of presidents and rich powerful establishment, these financial groups are one of the three real forces which were making a vital decisions for the state without any interests for the people of Kyrgyzstan. They use the entrenched corruption in the country in their favor or to catch fish in troubled waters,so to speak. Kyrgyzstan is the only country in the CIS which attracts international adventurers who get reach through skillful plundering of the country, thanks to the current authorities.

The Kyrgyz people are not masters of their wealth and their destiny. The nation is just surviving, while the ruling family acts as a classic colonizer. Will this be a lesson for the Kyrgyz younger generation ? Young people understand what’s going on in the country. They know that it’s really possible to build a successful, legitimate business projects with foreign investors as it was done in many developing countries instead of the criminal schemes. But, nevertheless, many of them involved in deception process and they see themselves as practical people. I have noticed many times a strange conduct of the "new Kyrgyz” with utter disappointment who were rejoicing crumbs from the table of a rich neo-colonialists.


Ryskeldi Satke - On Mr. Shabatoev whose remains were found recently in the suburbs of Bishkek city. In an interview with “MK“ newspaper (Moskovskii Komsomolets) , you revealed some clues on his sudden disappearance including facts of his life after march 2005 when deceased was appointed to the position of commandant of the Presidential Palace and his meeting with President Bakiev, a week before his kidnapping. The authorities, in turn, came out with another version of Shabatoev’s death associated with criminal groups. Your opinion on this and what was the real reason of his death?

Bakyt Beshimov - All the so-called versions of the authorities about the high-profile killings, abductions and beatings of politicians, civil activists and journalists over the past four years have been a bluff and just totally unprofessional attitude. By the way, ask where to find the guy who was convicted in the case of Sadyrkulov’s “accident”? And who killed parliamentarian Kadyraliev as well as why ? Who stabbed outspoken journalist Abdyldaev 28 times ? Who killed journalist Saipov in 2007? Who is orchestrating the intimidation practice of journalists and politicians? Why imprisoned opposition member Mr. Bulekbaev and his companions were beaten and harassed inside the penitentiary facility by group of thugs? Such questions remain unanswered by hundreds. Meanwhile, generous state awards have been given left and right to the law enforcement officials who were supposed to take care of the crime rate in the country.

A couple of days after Mr. Shabotoev’s disappearance , head of GKNB, Mr. Sutalinov at a meeting of the profile committee in the Parliament essentially blamed a missing Shabotoev in the criminal activity. He also said that Shabotoev has asked President Bakiev to appoint him as a Governor of the Chui province. Basically, head of GKNB, Mr.Sutalinov confirmed the fact that a confidential contacts between President Bakiev and deceased Shabotoev took place. The GKNB also had materials on Shabotoev’s some kind of criminal business. Firstly, if Sutalinov’s arguments are true, then why GKNB has not acted in accordance with the laws in order to curb the criminal activity? Secondly, when and how the parliamentarian Shabotoev met with President Bakiev, according to Sutalinov? SDPK faction learned about it from the words of Sutalinov.

The reports of the respected international organizations clearly stated that the tendency of criminalization in Kyrgyz politics and widespread corruption of the public administration has been observed in the country .

Ryskeldi Satke -  Mr. Beshimov, we already raised issues around the Kambar Ata HES ( Hydro Electric Station ). Kyrgyz Parliament, recently approved state law which grants a permission of sale and loan the project Kambar Ata II HES, through a newly created Development Fund of the Kyrgyzstan . What’s your comment on this?

Bakyt Beshimov - It is extremely important for the young state such as Kyrgyz Republic to conduct a realistic and pragmatic policy in both external and internal politics . I do not understand why all the relevant issues as the construction of new HES or a decision on Manas air base should be solved without serious analysis and calculations. After all, a projects of this magnitude always need a sober assessment of its capabilities along with worst case scenarios. From the outset, it was clear that Kambar-Ata HES did not fit the country’s budget for the project. On the other hand, this is a political issue because it directly affects the energy security of the country which is why the public should have been told about the aims, objectives of the project and the implications of its implementation. It is a pity, but now the parliament is not in a position to address the issue objectively and provide an important balance of executive power.

The risk of making poor and dangerous political decisions increases dramatically due to the shape of the state institutions. The Kambar-Ata HES is one of those examples. For the first time in the history of the country, a situation created where decisions were made by executive management of the President Bakiev’s surrounding which combines three most dangerous characteristics: incompetence, corruption and criminal tendencies. The regional geographic analysis of Kyrgyzstan and the Kyrgyz leadership by foreign countries and international financial institutions, I stress this, which the Kyrgyz government call the donors and partners, highlights “a lack of clear and practical strategy of development” in general. The Bakiev Administration and the Government are unable to formulate strategic goals and objectives, the needs of the young state and back up plans for the country in difficult situation. Weak rulers are being played out by powerful forces and that is happening with Kyrgyzstan.

Ryskeldi Satke - Your colleague from the SDPK faction, Mr. Kadyrov, was forced to hide with regards to actions taken against him by General Prosecutor’s Office. Do you have contacts with him at the moment?

Bakyt Beshimov - The Balykchy case is a crime against kyrgyz people. Criminal case against Kadyrov is totally illegal and fabricated. Therefore, he has no reason to have a legitimate business with the General Prosecutor’s Office. There is no justice under the current regime. Mr. Kadyrov, in these circumstances, forced into hiding. I met with him two days later after his release from prison. Kadyrov was in bruises with body wounds. In Issyk-Kul region, he was denied a medical examination. And only through some contacts we have managed to pass official medical check up in Bishkek city. The Bakiev administration has set a goal to humiliate and to destroy a human dignity of those who raised the voice against injustice. Their henchmen tried to do it with Kadyrov. I was told that the brother and son of the President Bakiev insisted that Kadyrov should give a testimony against me that I was plotting a coup.

After July 23 , I visited the prisoners in the commandant’s office of the Ministry of Defense where I was concerned about what I saw. I decided to undertake some work to understand what is happening inside the prisons. I met with members of law enforcement agencies. There were retired military officers and police experts who helped me to establish a real picture. The henchmen of Bakiev regime created a Kyrgyz GULAG. There is a sophisticated system of mockery and humiliation of political prisoners.

Kadyrov, as an experienced professional in the internal affairs system, understood perfectly what would have happened to him after the arrest. He did not give them such opportunity. I think that he should not cooperate with the current regime as well. Would it justify such cooperation with the criminals in power?
The day will come when Kadyrov, will be reunited with his family and everything will fall into place.

Ryskeldi Satke - What’s your opinion on the second Russian military base in the southern Kyrgyzstan?

Bakyt Beshimov - I do not understand neither the purpose nor the objective of such decision of the Kyrgyz government. It is not known what’s the content of the underlying reasons for building a Russian military base. It’s been discussed since 2005 and so far, we only produced our neighbor’s concern.

Ryskeldi Satke - It is obvious that our relations with Uzbekistan drastically worsened due to a water resource disputes and Russia’s military base near the Kyrgyz - Uzbek border. In your opinion, how the dispute can be resolved between Kyrgyz and Uzbek leadership?

Bakyt Beshimov - Kyrgyz-Uzbek relations are already tense and dangerous with the possibility of transition to the international confrontation. It is impossible to normalize relations and access to positive mutually beneficial cooperation in principle, with the status of current regimes in both countries It is also clear that population of Central Asia is suffering from excessive ambitions and greed of permanent rulers. The nature of the important government decision making process in both countries does not give a chance for open-minded constructive debate and dialogue. In some developments, there might be a possibility of an outbreak of a local war between the two states. Without serious involvement of international power players, I think the issue can’t be resolved. The famous researcher David Smith argues that "nowhere in the world exists a strong potential for conflict over resources as it is in Central Asia.”

Ryskeldi Satke - SDPK faction and the Ata Meken party announced a merger into a single political movement. Is such union can be effective in the light of the repressive measures taken by the authorities against the opposition?

Bakyt Beshimov - The repressions will only increase under the current regime. But the crackdown is not the only decisive factor in the effectiveness of the opposition. It is important to formulate and choose the right strategy to create more robust opposition alliance in the current difficult circumstances. The main risk for any political movement is an inherent weakness. It is necessary to unite all the progressive and positive thinking people. But, despite claims of the merger, the practical solution to this issue is still difficult.

Ryskeldi Satke - This is regarding a political prisoners in the Balykchi city. What efforts have taken for their release by the opposition?

Bakyt Beshimov - UOM ( United Opposition Union ) and SDPK are doing everything possible in tough circumstances to alleviate the plight of illegally detained protesters in Balykchi. President Bakiev would like to make a show trial as Stalin’d done it in 1937 trial. It is clear that the case was fabricated. Bakiev should understand that the day will come when his administration will be held accountable for this crime. In order to save themselves in the future, regime must release detained people. We are doing everything to put pressure on authorities. I had meetings with all major human rights organizations and asked them to make relevant statements and protests. In addition, it is important that Western governments know what’s going on with human rights in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore,it is necessary to strengthen the Kyrgyz opposition voice in the international arena.