South and north on the verge of fight

The Assembly of People’s Representatives, the Upper House of Kyrgyzstan’s government, almost unanimously (36 vs.5 votes) approved of the candidature of Nikolay Tanayev nominated by President Askar Akayev to the prime minister post. Nikolay Tanayev is to take over after recently dismissed Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who failed to cope with a political crisis raging in the country for more than two months already.

The nomination seems rather unexpected. First, Nikolay Tanayev never held senior posts, except for a short term on a vice-premier post. It means, he is not experienced enough as for top managerial posts. Nikolay Tanayev is characterized as the most undistinguished member of the government, as he seldom makes public reports at the sessions. Second, Tanayev has got practically no political or regional support; his name was not suggested when candidatures to the post were discussed. And finally, nobody could even expect that a non-native could be at head of the government. It was always a problem, a representative of which part of the country, South or North, is to be at head of the government. Instead, the president proposed a Russian to the post.

Voting for the candidature at the Upper House was rather quiet, only five deputies of forty one voted against. This consensus is accounted for an open-regime voting. Probably, obedient deputies did not dare to contradict the president, who was also present at the voting. At the same time, many politicians say in confidential conversations, the are displeased with the president’s decision. They suppose, this is to aggravate the south-north conflict, as the southerners have lost not only their positions, but also the prime minister post that perpetually belonged to them. Second, the newly appointed prime minister is much weaker than the previous one. Experts even say, the new government will be more obedient and inert as compared with the dissolved one.

Opposition says the cabinet reshuffling is not deep, it is of a mere cosmetic nature. Communist leader Absamat Masaliyev openly says, the newly appointed prime minister is weak. Tursunbai Bakir uulu, who is of great authority in Kyrgyzstan’s south, says that the president turned down opposition’s suggestion to form a coalition government. It was also mentioned that the president aimed at creation of a new government consisting of young and energetic politicians, and finally chose the most colorless and obedient person.

However, critics are even more interested in Akayev administration’s fate. As it turned out, this institution, that is not mentioned in the Constitution, controlled repressions that resulted in mass disorders in the south of the republic. Moreover, it turned out that head of the presidential administration Amanbek Karypkulov, who has been recently dismissed, personally instructed governors, Internal Ministry and security services involved in the mass disorders. Now Former Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev says that he exerted no influence on the structures, the institutions obeyed to the president and presidential administration only. It is to be added here that neither public opinion nor parliament participate in appointment of the presidential administration. That is why really unexpected people may appear on the posts. It is still not clear, who is to head the administration after the crisis. Well-informed sources suggest that some well-known officials may probably take the post: security council secretary Misir Ashirkulov, Osh governor Naken Kasiyev or Legislative Assembly deputy Dzhanysh Rustenkulov.

In any case, it is not time yet to consider Kyrgyzstan’s political crisis, that burst out this spring, as finished. After a short lull, meetings and protest actions resumed in the Jelal-Abad region. The people object to appointment of Nikolay Tanayev, who as they say, failed to held a proper investigation of the Aksy events. Second, the people object to the court decision on one-year imprisonment to deputy Azimbek Beknazarov. And although the deputy was released right after the session of the court, the Kyrgyz law says, that people having previous convictions can not be member of the parliament. And people fear that the conviction will interfere with the deputy’s career. Aksy citizens declared, they would not elect a new deputy, they will keep on supporting Azimbek Beknazarov, and organize new protest actions if necessary.

Yury Razgulyayev PRAVDA.Ru Bishkek Kyrgyzstan

Translated by Maria Gousseva

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2002/06/03/42124.html