Dear all,

This list is to provide information relevant about the Kyrgyz elections. All
members are encouraged to send messages to me and I will be glad to post them
for the list as a whole. The archive may also be a useful source of information
as people post more information.

This is the first email after a while, apologies, summer in Bishkek is slow and
so have I been.

There is a giant collective intake of breath as people wait to see what the new
government will do and how it will act. There were some worrying rumors of
restaurants being "taken over" by one of the sons of the new President,
pressures being put on foreign businesspeople - these are rumoros but the source
was credible. Still, the next few weeks will really help us get a clearer
picture of things here. Bishkek, especially since March, is a city that thrives
on rumors so I take these stories with a (small) grain of salt.

One of the most amusing stories of recent times is here:
http://www.kyrgyzinfo.kg/eng/?art=1124193569

Also, China seems to be studying what happened here and in other countries where
democracy might be making movements forward (I suspect we won't see them in all
of the country's where it is claimed democracy is moving forward):
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/world/12398003.htm

Next week in Bishkek, we are in discussions withe Speaker of the Kyrgyz
Parliament to host a conference to discuss changes to the election law - more on
that soon.

Also, the Central Election Commission will be conducting consultations in all of
the regions at the end of next week and into mid-September. If you would like
more information about that, please contact me and I can send you the
information.

with best wishes,

David

Dr. David J. Mikosz
Chief of Party
IFES in the Kyrgyz Republic
dmikosz@...

From Akipress (links are in reverse chronological order – most recent links
are first)

A. Salymbekov removed his nominee on Bishkek mayor elections after talk with
President Bakiev

B. Incomes of Kyrgyzstan budget increased by 1.2 billion



C. President Bakiev to decrease a quantity of governmental officials

D. New Kyrgyzstan President offers to call a new constitutional meeting

E. The decision on regions abolition will be made on results of current year

F. Court of primary jurisdiction returned property to president of MSN newspaper

G. Parliamentary reelection on University constituency 1 to be held on September
18

H. Members of Constitutional Meeting protest against variant of the project of
the Constitution

I. Inauguration of Kurmanbek Bakiev to be held on August 14

Vecherny Bishkek (links are in reverse chronological order – most recent links
are first)

The budget will not bear the load

You should know our people

Personnel reform

The Prime Minister’s start

Political forecast

The Inauguration

A feast during Black Death

A new Mayor has been elected in Osh

Is it an inauguration or a coronation?

Does Bakiev need a disobedient Parliament?

Modesty becomes even Presidents

The regime change has not changed the situation

When will Kurmanbek Bakiev dismiss Kulov?



A. Salymbekov removed his nominee on Bishkek mayor elections after talk with
President Bakiev

The acting mayor of Bishkek Askar Salymbekov told AKIpress about it on
extraordinary XVII session of Bishkek urban Kenesh at self-removal of his
nominee on mayor lections. The meeting was held yesterday at night.

“I had conversation with K.Bakiev. After conversation with him, I think, that I
am more necessary to parliament. Especially my voters have asked me to represent
their interests in parliament,” - he explained.

“We understand your trouble, but we take him (Salymbekov) with good intentions,”
– head of the President’s administration Usen Sydykov told members of urban
Kenesh. Term of powers of A.Salymbekov as acting mayor of Bishkek expires on
August 20. He was appointed by Bakiev on April 20, 2005.

B. Incomes of Kyrgyzstan budget increased by 1.2 billion

In January - July 2005, the incomes of Kyrgyzstan budget increased by 16.8 % or
1.2 billions soms. The reason of such significant growth of the incomes is the
increase of tax payments of the large Kyrgyz enterprises( Bishkekteploset
(Bishkek heat station) , Kyrgyzgaz, Bitel, Kyrgyztelecom, the International
airport Manas, Kant Cement and Slate Factory, Kumtor).

C. President Bakiev to decrease a quantity of governmental officials

Yesterday, at the meeting with the representatives of Kyrgyz Government, the
President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiev talked about decrease of staff of the
Government.

Bakiev noticed, that the charges on state management in our country makes up 21
% of all charges of Kyrgyzstan's budget, In Russia and Kazakhstan, this figure
is equal only 5 % of budget charges. "We can not afford such luxury and we are
going to decrease a staff of the government, we shall solve this problem within
one week", Bakiev noted.

Bakiev noted that is necessary to improve a quality of work of the civil
servants and to raise their wages. "We should not only raise the responsibility
of heads of local bodies of the authority, but also expand their powers. All
appointments of a regional level, excepting structures of public prosecution,
courts, SNB (National Security Service) and Statistics, will be made only as
agreed with the heads of local state adm inistrations", Bakiev noted.

D. New Kyrgyzstan President offers to call a new constitutional meeting

Yesterday, the President of KR Kurmanbek Bakiev met the representatives of
Kyrgyz Government. At the meeting, Bakiev said: "It would be reasonable to
create the constitutional meeting, which would consider rules of the basic law
anew". "We should approach to a question of change of the Constitution with
great responsibility. All changes should be accepted only after all-national
discussion. If we change the Constitution every 2-3 years, we discredit our
basic law", Bakiev said.

E. The decision on regions abolition will be made on results of current year

The final decision on abolition of regions will be considered on results of the
current year proceeding from total performance of governors. Governmental
press-service told AKIpress about it on August 16, 2005.

“We’ll decide after examination of diligence, results of their (governors) work
up to the end of year and we shall consult to the people,” - Kyrgyz president
Kurmanbek Bakiev told at meeting on reform of state management with heads of the
executive authority on August 15. Let's remind, several heads are for abolition
of regions of the country within the framework of administrative-territorial
reform directed on increase to managerial effectiveness.

F. Court of primary jurisdiction returned property to president of MSN newspaper

Building of newspaper “Vechernyi Bishkek,” advertising agency “Airek”, and also
several thousand stocks of “Publishing house Vechernyi Bishkek”, should be
returned to advertising company Rubikon [headed by editor-in-chief of MSN
newspaper Alexander Kim]. The appropriate decision was accepted by Sverdlovsk
regional court of Bishkek, Internews reported


The court of primary jurisdiction confirmed correctness of A.Kim which told that
the bargains on sale of the building and stocks have passed without his
participation and the documents, in particular protocol of general meeting of
stock holders of Rubikon from May 28, 2001, are a fake.

According to the lawyer of media representative institute Ilim Karypbekov [one
of the lawyers representing interests of A.Kim in the court], the stocks of
“Publishing house Vechernyi Bishkek” after this bargain were “re-sold several
times” and the building of “Vechernyi Bishkek” according to the informa tion of
State Registration agency belongs to “Airek.”

Thus, if within 30 days there is no appeal on the decision Sverdlovsk regional
court, A.Kim as the President of “Rubikon”, again will become the main
stockholder of “Publishing house Vechernyi Bishkek” and the building.

The lawyer of “Vechernyi Bishkek” Oleg Nechaikin informed that they have not
seen decision of Sverdlovsk court. “The Protocol of court is prepared for three
days, as soon as we shall receive the decision of court, we shall make the
decision,” – he explained.

G. Parliamentary reelection on University constituency 1 to be held on September
18


Reelection in Kyrgyz Parliament on University constituency 1 is appointed on
September 18, 2005. Such decision was accepted at session of the Central
Elections Commission (CEC) on July 25, 2005.


According to the decision, since July 26 the creation local elections commission
on the given district will begin. On June 30 the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan
decided to recognize Parliamentary elections on this constituency void that that
deprived the winner Bermet Akaeva of deputy powers. Bermet Akaeva, in her turn,
is going to appeal her mandate in the international courts.

H. Members of Constitutional Meeting protest against variant of the project of
the Constitution




“We, members of the Constitutional Meeting, express the protest against
published variant of the project of changes in Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, in
particular on the human rights,” - the members of the Constitutional Meeting
Atyrkul Alisheva, Burul Makenabeva, Toktorbek Ahirkul uulu and Nurlan Sadykov
declared today.

As T.Ashirkul uulu noted, “clause 16 defining human rights became the very
disputable moment at discussion of new version of the Constitution.” “So, the
working Constitution includes 22 items on human rights. During discussion of the
new Constitution 10 items were eliminated, i.e. in total it is supposed to bring
in only 12 items determining human rights,” - he said.

According to N.Sadykov, “there are progressive amendments in clause 16,” as
which he has named the amendment according to which nobody can be arrested or
held in custody without motivated decision of court. As to other amendment, he
called amendment in i tem 14, according to which “the citizens have the right to
rally peacefully, to carry out meetings etc. without the prior notification of
state bodies.”

“We, representatives of civil sector, agree with the version of the Constitution
of 2003, where 22 items are included in clause 16 (human rights), it was
necessary to make amendments to some of which. And now it (clause 16) is reduced
by 10 items,” – B.Makenbaeva said.

In the conclusion they stressed, “that the mistakes should not repeat, when the
produced variant of the project of constitution was changed without the
knowledge of and consent of Constitutional Meeting, as it happened in 2003.”

I. Inauguration of Kurmanbek Bakiev to be held on August 14

Inauguration of Kurmanbek Bakiev on a post of the President of Kyrgyzstan will
pass on August 14 at 13:00, acting vice-prime minister of Kyrgyzstan Adahan
Madumarov said today July 18. As he said, “an interdepartmental commission on
preparation of inauguration ceremony procedure is created on Monday July 18,
2005.” Madumarov said about some innovations. Thus, according to Madumarov,
“Bakiev will have new presidential standard and breast presidential mark, which
will mean a symbol of new authority.”

Talking about financing of inauguration Madumarov said, that “the ceremony will
be financed from the state budget.” “Inauguration is a constitutional case. As
the speech goes about honor of the Constitution, honor of the President, we
should not grudge money to this event,” - he said.

Vecherny Bishkek (links are in reverse chronological order – most recent links
are first)

The budget will not bear the load
http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/17/panorama/2.html

You should know our people http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/17/sport/1.html

Personnel reform http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/17/tema/1.html

The Prime Minister’s start http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/16/panorama/3.html

Political forecast http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/15/tema/1.html

The Inauguration http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/15/panorama/1.html

A feast during Black Death : http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/12/tema/1.html

A new Mayor has been elected in Osh
http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/11/panorama/2.html

Is it an inauguration or a coronation?
http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/10/tema/1.html

Does Bakiev need a disobedient Parliament?
http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/10/panorama/8.html


Modesty becomes even Presidents http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/05/panorama/1.html

The regime change has not changed the situation
http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/04/tema/2.html

When will Kurmanbek Bakiev dismiss Kulov?
http://www.vb.kg/eng/2005/08/03/panorama/3.html




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