Secretary General of the SI in Kyrgyzstan

14-18 January 2020

In accordance with the decision adopted by the SI Committee for the CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea at its meeting in Minsk, Belarus, on 8-9 November 2019, to carry out a visit to Kyrgyzstan in view of the critical developments affecting the SI-member Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, the SI Secretary General, Luis Ayala, travelled to the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek in January 2020.

At that meeting in Minsk, representatives of the SDP of Kyrgyzstan had presented a report on the deteriorating political situation in the country following the detention of the former president of the Republic and former SDPK leader Almazbek Atambayev, and the arrest of other members of the party leadership. Taking on the task to visit the country and hold talks with representatives of the government of Kyrgyzstan as well as the SDPK, the first party in the post-Soviet region to come to power from opposition, the SI Secretary General undertook a wide range of meetings, including with His Excellency Sooronbay Jeenbekov, President of Kyrgyzstan. He held meetings with Isa Omurkulov who was elected as head of the SDPK faction in 2016; with Aida Kasymalieva, Deputy Speaker of parliament; members of the SDPK parliamentary group; with families of SPDK members who are in prison; and with members of the media. Luis Ayala also visited Almazbek Atambayev’s residence, from where he was apprehended in August 2019. Atambayev, who is currently under arrest charged with several criminal offences, denies all the charges against him and is now reported to be suffering from health problems. A number of other members of the SDPK also remain in custody.

The Socialist International has been deeply concerned with these serious developments affecting its member party, the SDPK. After the extensive discussions held in Bishkek, the Socialist International has continued to closely monitor the situation in the country with a view to contribute to a positive resolution.

 


 

 

Meeting of HE Sooronbay Jeenbekov, President of Kyrgyzstan, and SI Secretary General Luis Ayala


Members of the SPDK parliamentary group with the SI Secretary General


Isa Omurkulov, elected as head of the SDPK faction in 2016, with SI Secretary General Luis Ayala


Meeting with the families of SPDK members who are in prison


Aida Kasymalieva, Deputy Speaker of parliament


Meeting with members of the media in Kyrgyzstan


SI Secretary General with Khadyrbek Atambayev at Koy-Tash, the residence of former president Almazbek Atambayev who is currently under arrest