BISHKEK (TCA) — On November 4, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Kyrgyzstan initiated a criminal case against the leader of the Respublika – Ata Jurt parliamentary faction and former presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov.

Babanov is accused of public calls for a violent change of the constitutional order and the incitement of national, racial or religious hatred.

According to an investigation, on September 28, 2017, during the election campaign, Babanov held a meeting with residents of the Amir Timur (On-Adyr) micro district of Osh city in the south of the country, mainly of Uzbek nationality. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office report, in order to obtain the votes of the Uzbek population, Babanov spoke about the infringement of the rights of people of Uzbek nationality, the alleged national inequality in the country and pressure on persons of Uzbek nationality by state bodies, and then urged them to actively resist this situation.

The complex philological and political examination revealed that Babanov’s public statements contained appeals aimed at stirring up ethnic hatred, provoking people to disobey and overthrow the current authorities, the Prosecutor General’s Office said. The criminal case was submitted to the State National Security Committee for further investigation.

Babanov’s statement

Babanov called the criminal case initiated against him absolutely flimsy and politically motivated. “The authorities cannot understand that Babanov is not the source of all problems. From the fact that they will remove me from the political arena, life in the country will not improve, and problems will not be solved. You cannot blame me, demonize and slander me for all the misfortunes,” he said in a statement later on November 4.

“I still hope for the wisdom of the authorities and I think that everyone recognizes this as a mistake,” said Babanov.

He is currently in Russia, deputy head of Respublika – Ata Jurt parliamentary faction Ruslan Kazakbaev told Sputnik Kyrgyzstan. According to him, Babanov left for Russia for treatment.

Russian expert’s commentary

The criminal case against Babanov confirms the sad conclusion that “outgoing President Atambayev has never really become a national leader capable of uniting the people of Kyrgyzstan into a single community,” Russian political analyst Arkady Dubnov told Kaktus.media information agency.

Instead, all the last steps of the outgoing president were aimed at preserving his power, strengthening his loyal state bodies, and placing his entrusted people in responsible positions, Dubnov said.

The artificiality of the accusations brought against Babanov is evident, and behind them there is the desire of the president to make a scapegoat out of his recent colleague and ally, and to blame him in significant part for the failures of the country’s economic policy, the expert said. The current authorities want to frighten Babanov and force him not to return to Kyrgyzstan. Authorities also want to curb and frighten Babanov’s supporters in Talas, Dubnov concluded.

Talas rallies

Earlier, local media reported on the possible arrest of Babanov. If Babanov returns from abroad, he can be taken into custody, the Asia News reported on November 2.

The rallies in Babanov’s home region of Talas were organized by his supporters, said head of the presidential administration Almaz Usenov in an interview with the Azattyk radio. The words of President Atambayev about the Manas epic were correct and the head of state will not apologize, Usenov said.

Since October 16, residents of Talas, not pleased with the results of the presidential elections, have held rallies. The reason for the latest rallies was the resentment of Talas residents with the words of Atambayev, who allegedly called them descendants of the enemies of Manas — Abyke and Kobosh.

On October 28, Atambayev criticized the rally in Talas city. He said that he was greatly saddened by the fact that during the rally in support of Babanov, young people did not want to listen to the excerpt from the Manas epic, which the Talas governor wanted to read. Atambayev spoke about the value of the epic, which can rightly be in second place after the Koran. Atambayev complained that the young people were led by the provocations of the descendants of Kobosh and Abyke, if they ignored the epic.

Political scientist Ainura Arzimatova said that Babanov was behind the rally in Talas, adding that those actions could lead to a split in society.

“In the election debates [President-elect] Sooronbai Jeenbekov promised Babanov to start fighting corruption from him. Now, when the results of the election have been summed up, Babanov decided to protect himself by the Talas people ready to go to the rally, and the demand that the president apologize was just an excuse,” Arzimatova said.

People were concerned about the idea of reviewing the results of the presidential election. “Of course, the fact that they were angrily shouting towards the governor indicates at regionalism. They think that if Babanov got 82% of the votes in Talas, he should become president. But the Talas oblast is not all of Kyrgyzstan,” Arzimatova concluded.

The Talas province is Babanov’s “small homeland”, he was born there.

According to the official results of the presidential elections that took place on October 15, Jeenbekov received the largest number of votes – 54.22%, followed by Babanov with 33.49%.

The richest man in Kyrgyzstan

According to the Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan, out of 11 candidates who participated in the presidential election, Babanov had the largest pre-election promotion fund, 200.5 million soms.

With a fortune estimated at $1.5 billion, he is considered the richest Kyrgyz in the world. Prior to entering politics, he was engaged in business and headed large companies involved in the export of cotton and the supply of petroleum products to the country.

Babanov is the owner of a cement plant in the Penza region of Russia. The plant with a $370 million budget annually produces 1.86 million tons of cement.

He also owns Internet media and a TV channel, an auto market and a bank in Bishkek. The recently opened Asia Mall in Bishkek belongs to his wife Rita Birbaeva, who received a $17 million loan from the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund for its construction.

Background

In 2005, after the Tulip Revolution, Babanov was elected to Parliament. In 2007, he joined the opposition, demanding the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. After the revolution of 2010, he joined the government of Almazbek Atambayev as the first deputy prime minister.

Under President Akayev, Babanov was a close friend of President’s son Aidar Akayev, and that friendship led his business to prosperity. Later, he continued his career and business with Maxim Bakiyev, son of the second Kyrgyz president.

After the April 2010 revolution, Babanov became the leader of the Respublika political party.

After Atambayev was elected president in October 2011, Babanov was prime minister but left the post after in August 2012, he was accused of receiving a horse worth $1.2 million from a Turkish businessman.

BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Central Asia is an important geopolitical area between Europe, Russia and China. It is in Central Asia that world powers have confronted each other for centuries; it is here that China needs to succeed with its new Silk Road Belt for direct access to the Western markets; and it is here that a large wealth of raw materials has its origin. Every week thousands of news appears all over the world in printed and online media and it is quite understandable that many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of the region, and for this reason we are presenting this Weekly Digest of Central Asia which compiles what other media have reported during the past week.

Continue reading

ALMATY (TCA) — One more bank has come into trouble in Kazakhstan, whose banking sector has experienced several grave crises over the past decade. We are republishing this article by Almaz Kumenov on the issue, originally published by EurasiaNet.org:

Continue reading

BISHKEK (TCA) — At the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on November 3 in Tashkent, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sapar Isakov complained about the situation on the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border, where long lines of loaded trucks stand on the Kyrgyz side of the border facing delays with entering Kazakhstan whose authorities stepped up border checks on October 10.

The delays began after outgoing Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev accused Kazakhstan of meddling in the campaign for Kyrgyzstan’s October 15 presidential election and criticized the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev over his long rule.

Kazakh officials have denied any political motive for stepped-up procedures at the border.

Both countries are members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which also includes Russia, Belarus, and Armenia.

The Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan said that Kazakhstan, using the transit advantage, creates artificial barriers to the movement of goods and cars. “Cars are under control for up to five days. Each time there are various justifications — up to the point that Kyrgyzstan carries smuggling. Can we call agricultural products, milk products smuggling?” Isakov said, adding that the situation has not changed for more than 20 days and Kyrgyzstan was forced to apply to the EEU and WTO.

Kazakhstan Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev responded to Isakov, explaining the position of the Government of Kazakhstan.

“The government of Kazakhstan considers statements of the Kyrgyz side incorrect. The position of our state on this issue is well known. It fully corresponds to the ideology of the formation of the common economic space of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union and is aimed at minimizing economic risks and economic damage to the member countries of the Union,” Sagintayev said as reported by the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

Sagintayev said Kyrgyzstan needs to bring the norms of its national legislation in accordance with the EEU law on tax administration, counteract illegal exports including of counterfeit products, and ensure permanent and effective veterinary-sanitary and phytosanitary (quarantine) control of goods for compliance with the EEU requirements.

“Thus, we protect not only our national interests. We protect the economic interests and economic security of the EEU space,” Sagintayev said, adding that the order of monitoring and control at the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border fully and strictly conforms to the norms and requirements of the EEU legislation.

“We are ready for a constructive dialogue on bilateral economic cooperation, as well as cooperation in the field of border, transport, phytosanitary and veterinary control, customs and tax administration,” the Kazakh prime minister concluded.

BISHKEK (TCA) — On October 29, 39 tour guides in Kyrgyzstan completed a training course on international standards for tour guides. Members of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) trained them on the best techniques to plan and conduct guided tours, as well as ways to better research, document, and relay facts about cultural and historical sites. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized the training as part of its broader efforts to improve tourism in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Continue reading

BISHKEK (TCA) — Special attention of government agencies, the media and general public is currently paid to the quality of construction works in Kyrgyzstan. The reason was the recent collapse of a building under construction in the southeast of Bishkek. The Avangard Style construction company, a leader of the country’s construction market with a 19-year history, is constructing that high-rise building.

A 740 square meters extension facility under construction (where a sports complex should be) attached to the main building collapsed because of violation of construction rules and the lack of state architectural and construction supervision. As a result, 11 construction workers suffered.

Construction works were suspended until the end of the clarification of the cause of the collapse, the State Inspectorate for Environmental and Technical Security said. The Inspectorate did not give its permission to continue construction of the building. After the investigation, the facility will be demolished. The Avangard Style company will pay an administrative fine for non-compliance with the technology for construction and installation works.

According to official data, Temirlanbek Sultanov is the head and founder of Avangard Style. The company belonged to the current presidential adviser Kalykbek Sultanov until 2011, when he was appointed Minister of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan.

Under Kyrgyzstan’s law, officials are not allowed to be engaged in commercial activities, but civil servants who own businesses come out of the situation by re-registering their companies to trusted persons or close relatives.

It was not the only case of collapse at facilities under construction. Last May, as a result of a strong wind, part of the wall of a building under construction collapsed into a yard of the neighboring residential multi-storey building in downtown Bishkek. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

Prosecutor General’s Office conclusion

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, officials of the State Inspectorate for Environmental and Technical Safety did not conduct mandatory construction supervision over the construction of the 14-storey multi-apartment house at the intersection of Tokombayev and Sukhbaatar streets (Southern Highway) in Bishkek, constructed by Avangard Style LLC.

After the incident, the officials of the State Technical Inspectorate, in order to conceal their illegal actions, entered into collusion with the construction company’s employees and compiled and registered forged acts on allegedly completed works from May to August 2017, the Prosecutor General’s Office said. The permission to carry out construction works expired on July 28, 2017 and was not extended in accordance with the established procedure.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has initiated a criminal case for abuse of office and forgery.

Triple control

Construction companies should be responsible for the safety of residential buildings which they sell to citizens. According to the legislation, buildings under construction are subject to triple control. Project authors should carry out their own supervision, developers or customers – technical control, and the State Inspectorate for Environmental and Technical Safety – architectural and construction supervision.

Developers should monitor the input control of all building materials and equipment used. Construction companies should ensure control over all technological operations on which the safety of buildings depends.

The State Technical Inspectorate should check the compliance of the works performed with the requirements of technical regulations. General contractor conducting construction is responsible for poor-quality construction. Violation of technical regulations entails administrative fines.

There have been no facts of destruction of objects after commissioning so far, officials said.

Quality of building materials

On November 1, Kyrgyzstan’s MPs considered amendments to the Law on safety of building materials, products and structures. The amendments will bring Kyrgyzstan’s regulatory legal acts in line with the new edition of the Commodity Nomenclature for Foreign Economic Activity of the Eurasian Economic Union.

A draft technical regulation of the Eurasian Economic Union “On the Safety of Buildings and Structures, Building Materials and Products” is currently being developed to establish mandatory safety requirements for the EEU member countries, but the regulation will be adopted not earlier than 2019.

Before the EEU rules are introduced, the Economy Ministry of Kyrgyzstan proposed to develop domestic requirements on the safety of building materials.

In 2016, more than 69.6 thousand tons of cement was imported to Kyrgyzstan, but only 15 thousand tons of them were confirmed for compliance with the technical regulations. Thus, about 78% of cement imported into Kyrgyzstan last year did not pass quality control, which does not ensure the proper quality and safety of construction works and buildings.