On April 29, 2010 in the Independent Press-center Vitaly Ponomarev’s press-conference “Events in Kyrgyzstan. Analysis from human rights perspective” took place. Vitaly Ponomarev, member of the board of HRC Memorial, director of the Central-Asian program of Memorial, was in Kyrgyzstan since 16 till 26 April. He visited Bishkek and administrative centers of two south regions of Kyrgyzstan. In the last February after the publication of Memorial’s report about the events in Nookat* Ponomarev was barred from entry to the country for five years. However, some days after the fall of Bakiyev’s government the restriction of the entry for foreign human rights activists and journalists was enabled by the Provisional government.

Comparing his impressions of the 2008 visit to Bishkek with those after this April events Ponomarev emphasized that the atmosphere changed drastically: “It seemed to me that I came to another country. The atmosphere resembles a mix of 1917 and perestroika of 1988-89 in Russia with the correction for Asian specificity.” Although the events sharpened the conflicts which had been hidden before the society woke up, it is not only anxious but also hopeful the first time in the last years. The young people seek to take part in politics, new political forces form, different offers and projects are being discussed. Numerous foreign mass media write only about anarchy, instability, future threats etc. “All this exist for sure, - said the expert, - but these publications do not reflect the atmosphere and the situation that really exists in the society now.”

Ponomarev believes that the Provisional government unites people with different points of view and attitudes. It’s unlikely that in the forthcoming elections they will perform as a united group. Now the government in Kyrgyzstan is being seriously criticized for personnel policy, absence of transparency in the procedure of making decisions etc., and also because of the past work of its members in the governmental bodies of Akayev and Bakiyev periods. Criticizing some of the government’s steps we can’t help mentioning a number of unprecedented political steps for Central Asia such as the forming of a central election committee with active participation of civil society, statement about the re-examination of a Nookat case, after which, the expert suggested, re-examinations of cases of other prisoners being in custody for political and religious motives. The expert also said about constant contact between government and NGOs, about their real cooperation. “Many ideas offered by civil society start to come true indeed. There was not such a situation in Central Asia since the collapse of the USSR,” - Ponomarev said.

Speaking about the appraisal of the events of April 6-7, 2010, the expert said that the fall of Bakiyev could not be considered as a banal struggle for power between the groups in a ruling elite. Bakiyev tried to impose “an extremely tough political model like the one existing in a neighboring Uzbekistan.” “This model was being imposed by force. It met nor political actuals neither Kyrgyzstan traditions. In thiscontext the fall of Bakiyev is a positive step despite of all the problems and difficulties that appeared, - Ponomarev pointed out. - In the last two years the country was in front of a historical dilemma. Unfortunately the politics of a previous president and his milieu did not leave any alternative except the violent scenario. If Bakiyev had remained in power the future of Kyrgystan would have been tragic.” According to the expert’s words, there are different opinions about the role of Russia in the April events. It’s obvious that March television reports with the critics of Bakiyev’s regime were interpreted by Kyrgyzstan elite as an evident signal that Bakiyev was not supported by Russia anymore which was a key foreign-policy partner of Kyrgyzstan. Regardless the aims of Kremlin it was the first time in post-soviet Central Asian history that Russia did not support dictatorship but took the side of democracy. “It’s an important precedent”, - said Ponomarev.

Now inside Kyrgyzstan the critics regarding artificial forcing of interethnic conflicts in Kyrgyzstan in some Russian mass media is being expressed. “No serious anti-Russian attitudes can be registered”, - Ponomarev said. In the situation of chaos in the first days after Bakiyev’s escape tragic precedents happened, repartition of the property took place; in some cases the conflicts were interethnic indeed. Nevertheless, on the whole not only members of ethnic minorities felt the threat of violence in those days.

Human rights organizations expressed their concern regarding the expultion of ex-minister of MVD of Kyrgyzstan Moldomus Konganiyev from Russia. “The wish of collaboration with new power is understandable but legal reasons of the expulsion seem doubtful and vague, - said Ponomarev. - HRC Memorial is going to submit a request to the Russian authorities to clarify the legal base of these actions.” When it comes to the West, that is traditionally considered as an ally of democratic powers, but it was not ready to the change of leadership in Kyrgyzstan. US efforts were concentrated at the issue of saving of the military base which is really important for them because of the military operation in Afghanistan, so they closed their eyes at serious violations of human rights in Kyrgyzstan. For example, in the report of the Department of State it was said that there were no prisoners for religious motives in Kyrgyzstan (beside the fact that 32 people were convicted in the Nookat case which draw a wide response all over the country).

Ponomarev also spoke about some stereotypes widespread in the media. So, he believes that the opinion that Bakiyev was supported in the South is wrong. “By his politics he undermined people’s faith in himself in the South and in the North as well,” - the expert said.

In conclusion Ponomarev said that in the next months a joint report of HRC Memorial and several international organizations would be prepared. The appearance of the report is set for autumn of 2010. The report will cover not only the events themselves but also the preconditions and the problems regarding human rights that arose after the fall of Bakiyev’s regime.

* In 2008 there were clashes with police connected with the ban of celebrating a religious holiday in one of the districts. 32 residents of the district were sentenced to imprisonment within 20 years for fabricated convictions of political character. Many of them were being tortured.

For further information: Memorial