Politics
Former Kyrgyz president’s supporters take over government buildings in South
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe interim government in Kyrgyzstan has sent the country’s acting defense minister to the southern city of Osh, where loyalists of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev are occupying provincial government buildings.
By Farangis Najibullah
The interim government in Kyrgyzstan has sent the country’s acting defense minister to the southern city of Osh, where loyalists of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev are occupying provincial government buildings.
Government buildings in the country’s two other southern provinces – Batken and Jalal-Abad — were also stormed by Bakiev supporters on May 13 in a day of uprisings that broke the calm that had settled over the country after Bakiev was driven power last month following deadly antigovernment protests.
Roza Otunbaeva, the head of the country’s interim government, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azattyk, "If there would be such forces that would like to make obstacles for us, in order to try to push Kyrgyzstan backwards and try to divide all of us, then we have both full power and readiness to resist and prevail over them."
In the largest of the protests, RFE/RL correspondent Rysbai Abdraimov in Jalal-Abad said several thousand people had gathered in front of the provincial government headquarters and were chanting pro-Bakiev slogans, including, "[The] Kyrgyz people are with Bakiev," "We consider only Bakiev the legitimate president," and "The end of an era for the interim government."
Our correspondent said the crowd "surrounded [provincial] Governor Bektur Asanov for a while but then let him go, and he left in his car." About 50 of the protesters, mostly women, then forced their way into the local government building.
Acts of Treason
The police refrained from getting involved and none of the protesters appeared to be carrying any type of weapon.
A crowd of Bakiev supporters also surrounded the local government building in Batken, demanding the dismissal of the new governor, Karamat Orozov.
Dozens of the protesters then entered the building and called for the former governor, a Bakiev loyalist, to be returned to his post. Orozov’s whereabouts remain unclear.
Unconfirmed reports also say opponents of the interim government have taken over the airport in another southern city, Osh.
Adakhan Madumarov, former Kyrgyz state secretary and a close ally of Bakiev, criticized the organizers of the protest and the building occupation.
"If [Bakiev’s] people are behind the [latest actions against the interim government], then I would assess their actions as treason against the Kyrgyz state," Madumarov told RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service. "However, there is also the danger that the interim government would just blame someone for all the shortcomings without acknowledging their own fault.
"These gentlemen and ladies [in the interim government] who stated that they took responsibility for the [country’s] future should go to the people for direct talks in order to settle the current situation."
Osh Protests
Earlier on May 13, some 300 protesters gathered in front of the local government headquarters in Osh, demanding Bakiev’s return. After a scuffle with guards, protesters entered the building, forcing the provincial governor to flee.
RFE/RL correspondents at the scene say Sooronbai Jeenbekov, who was appointed Osh provincial governor by Kyrgyzstan’s interim government last month, left the building surrounded by his guards.
Our correspondents say former Osh Governor Mamasadyk Bakirov and his deputy then entered their "offices."
Later, both Bakirov and Jeenbekov addressed the crowd outside the government building, where supporters of the interim government also gathered.
Bakirov called for the restoration of legality and the return of Bakiev. Jeenbekov called for calm and promised that the interim government would meet people’s social demands and carry out reforms.
Kursant Asanov, the head of the Osh city police, told RFE/RL that police were maintaining order in the city.
"First, we will protect the public order, secondly, we will not allow any provocation for ethnic tensions, etc.
Asanov said the police would safeguard public order and prevent any outbreak of ethnic tensions. He also said that the police force was "out of politics," and urged city residents to avoid "provocations."
The south, Bakiev’s native region, is where support for the ousted president has been strongest.
Bakiev’s ‘Revenge’
As yet there is no official reaction by the interim government to developments in Jalal-Abad and Batken.
However, earlier on May 13, in the wake of the Osh demonstration, interim leaders said they would take measures to restore authority in the southern city. They also sent interim Defense Minister Ismail Isakov to Osh.
Roza Otunbaeva, the head of the interim government, said it would not allow the ousted government to try to "take revenge."
Interim government deputy leader Azimbek Beknazarov, too, described the latest developments in Osh as an intensified attempt by "counterrevolutionary forces" to take revenge.
Beknazarov said there were indications that opponents of the interim government had been joining forces. He told RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service that any such attempt was doomed because the interim cabinet enjoyed support among the people.
Separately, Omurbek Tekebaev, another Otunbaeva deputy, told Reuters that opponents of the interim government had been plotting a coup.
On May 12, "they planned to storm the parliament" where the interim government resides and "declare a new government," Tekebaev told the news agency.
Bakiev is now based in Belarus on President Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s invitation. AFP quoted a spokeswoman for Bakiev as saying the former president and his relatives were not involved in the events in Osh.
The interim authorities have asked Belarus to extradite Bakiev to stand trial in Bishkek in connection with the deaths of protesters and for abuse of office. Some 85 people were killed during the April uprising.
Kyrgyz local media reported today that relatives of the victims staged demonstrations in front of the Belarus Embassy in Bishkek demanding Minsk hand over Bakiev to Kyrgyz authorities.
In reaction, Belarus has recalled its ambassador from Kyrgyzstan due to safety concerns.
Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Savinnykh said the safety of the embassy personnel and their families could not be guaranteed under present circumstances in Bishkek. He added that threats had been made against specific embassy personnel.
He said that diplomatic relations between Belarus and Kyrgyzstan have not be severed.
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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