Telephonegate
This postcard is based on part of an earlier one which was sent as an email describing the events of the week between May 15th and 21st. It contains supplementary information which came to light afterwards.
In an attempt to draw the sting from planned protests in Djalal Abad in mid-May, 2010, the authorities released transcripts of some telephone conversations apparently held by Usen Sydykov, leader of the Jany Kyrgyzstan political party, with a number of different people, including: deputies from the parliament; the Acting Governor of the Djalal Abad oblast; Ishak Masaliev, (the leader of the Communist Party) and a number of unidentified individuals.
This turned out to be “the start of something ‘big’” … and raised lots of questions …
The conversations appeared to show how Sydykov had been involved in the organization of “meetings and disorders” in Kyrgyzstan and with a plan to hold a meeting of the parliament, (as many members as could be mustered – it was stressed that it was important to try and obtain a proper quorum), that would appoint Masaliev as speaker. According to the constitution, in the absence of the President, power is devolved to the Speakjer, so effectively, he could then claim to be the legitimate Acting President. Although in public, there had been talk about the need to recall Parliament to legitimize the Interim Government, there were no details in the recordings about this … however, there were discussions on who would/could be appointed as governors of the Batken, Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts … and taking as hostages, including Beknazarov, one of the members of the Interim Government, and two Acting Ministers.
The conversations were broadcast on national TV. They were in Kyrgyz, but subtitles were provided in Russian. Later they were released to news agencies and were published on the internet … in English as well. The sound was a little indistinct, and although the voice sounded like that of Sydykov, there was sufficient room for doubt, at least legally, that the news agencies tended to use phrases like “with voice resembling that of Usen Sydykov”. There was even talk about sending the tapes to Moscow for analysis as Kyrgyzstan doesn’t possess the technology that would allow it to determine the question definitively. Most people, however, seemed to accept that the recordings were, indeed, what they purported to be, and not a fabrication.
At first, members of the Interim Government were not available for comment, although a statement was promised in the near future. Masaliev, however, did comment saying that he had indeed had a telephone conversation with Sydykov, it was a private conversation but he confirmed that they had talked about the situation at that time in Osh.
Both Sydykov and Masaliev were arrested, detained for questioning.
Now, in most circumstances, everywhere around the world, listening into and recording telephone conversations is illegal. It’s an invasion of privacy. At first there seemed to be little concern, however, that the authorities were apparently doing so … it seemed to be accepted.
After the first wave of revelations, however, the question did arise. Usually law enforcement agencies can obtain permission to do so in cases where they consider it is important for some particular investigation. That seems to have been the case here, and the General Procurator, (the public prosecutor’s office), issued a statement to say that the eavesdropping of certain individuals had been authorized, and so the wire taps were indeed legal.
That didn’t stop comment questioning whether the Interim Government were right to have published the transcripts, saying that it was “unethical”: “This is shaping the enemy image, which does not contribute to stability and feeling of safety of citizens, … ”
In fact, it was later revealed in a “round table” called “Freedom and Safety in the Internet Sphere” that, in 2008, the Kyrgyz security services had apparently initiated the installation of a “system of operational search action” by all mobile phone operators. Those mobile operators who refused to install the system were put under pressure, “both morally and physically”, until they did so. This system allowed for all traffic to be copied and delivered to the security services. Of course, there is no detail about how they use the information contained in the recordings. After the events of April 7th, 2010, the operators attempted to turn off the system, but the intelligence services apparently intervened to make them switch the system on again.
It is not quite clear how this revelation tallies with comments by Atambaev that the recordings could not have come from the Kyrgyz security services as “… their equipment is destroyed” …
Although it is known that such recording systems are readily and easily available. A report on the Russia Today (RT) channel, for example, points out that almost anyone can listen in to mobile conversations, although it can require some pretty sophisticated and expensive equipment. In many countries such equipment is used in operations combating crime and terrorism, and there were recent reports that the Kyrgyz Security services had recently received such equipment from the US for exactly that purpose. Here, however, it seems that, if the reports are true, all the telephone traffic is routinely recorded and passed to the law enforcement bodies. Given the extent of penetration in the mobile phone market, there must be a huge amount of data generated. One wonders why they needed special equipment if all conversations are recorded and handed to the authorities as a matter of course.
A number of other questions occur to me … such as: has the system been approved by the General Procurator’s office? … because, if it hasn’t, it seems to me that it is probably illegal, and if it has, then, on what basis was a blanket recording of all conversations approved?
As the speaker in the conference remarked, “all of us are under close supervision” and the question arises: who uses the system?, how? and “do they abuse human rights?”
A week later saw yet further revelations.
Phone conversations involving members of the Interim Government were posted on the You Tube internet site which appeared to show members of the Interim Government in a discrediting light.
One was named “Beknazarov and Sariev and million”, a second file “Beknazarov and Atambaev are bargaining posts”. They opened with text,. in Russian, “Has the General Prosecutor’s Office sanctioned eavesdropping?”. In the first the two participants are heard discussing the need to distribute USD1 million … and adjusting paper records accordingly. In the second the two participants are heard apparently discussing the sale of posts. As well as photographs of the participants, there were subtitles, in Russian or Kyrgyz.
The press service of the Interim Government responded concerning the first, the conversation between Beknazarov and Sariev, saying that “the conversation was about the amount equivalent to US$1 million, which was requested by law enforcement agencies and allocated in accordance with the official decision of the Interim Government for the purpose of ensuring safety, law and order during political actions of destructive forces on May 12-14.”
It may well be that everything was above board and there was “nothing criminal” in it, as some people have commented, but others have pointed out that it does not show the individuals in a good light. Ordinary people don’t like to reminded that their leaders and “heroes” are ordinary people. I am reminded of the shock that many Americans felt when the Watergate tapes revealed the highest people in the land talking in everyday language uttering profanities and swear words … (“expletive deleted” became a common expletive in itself).
There was no response, however, about the second, the conversation between Beknazarov and Atambaev.
They also pointed out that the recordings were not authorized and were therefore illegal and the General Prosecutor’s Office was instructed to investigate who had made them.
A response to the release of Beknazarov-Atambaev conversation had to wait until a press briefing on the Sunday … when Atambaev acknowledged that the recordings were “true”.
According to the reports of the meeting, he agreed that the conversation with Beknazarov had indeed taken place and that he had been responsible for the appointment of the new Head of Customs”, but went on to deny that he had taken a bribe of USD400,000 for the post and to defend his protégé at Customs for the successful work he was doing in his new role.
He also pointed out that other members of the Interim Government had also been responsible for appointing people to posts and he insisted that any accusations about the “sale” of posts should be the subject of a proper, legal, investigation by the appropriate authorities.
In relation to the other conversation, (between Beknazarov and Sariev about finding USD1 million to meet the cost of the special security operations in the South by apparently “writing off” the sum from elsewhere in the budget), he commented that he knew nothing about the cost of the operations, although he admits to signing another document allocating two million to the operation. All the same, he seems to have been critical about his colleagues in the Interim Government, stressing that “Today, every penny must be clearly recorded, rather than seek ways to (it) write-off …”, and who can argue with that.
It appears that the meeting exposed differences between the members of the Interim Government, with what looked like personal attacks on some of his colleagues and a defense of his own with comments like:
- “such statements discredits my reputation for honesty …”
- “If I am guilty put me in handcuffs …”
- “I openly declared (to) Rosa Otunbaeva, I do not want to work with thieves …”
- “I just want to die an honest man. Of course, I do not know how much time do I have left, but I do everything possible (so) that (the) country prospers.”
All this, possibly bodes ill for the future and the campaign which is due in October.
There were three other postings which purported to be a conversation between Maxim and Janysh Bakiev. Maxim Bakiev can be heard proposing to organize an attack by 500 hired people who would seize the White House, declare themselves as an Interim Government and issue decrees … raising the question about why the sitting Interim Government is any more legitimate than them.
The calls lasted for a total of 40 minutes – and were carefully subtitled in English. I think that some of the translations are a little graphic and in press reports they are sometimes are bowdlerized … for example “f****rs” in the subtitles becomes “lowlifes” in some reports …
During the conversation, Janysh refers to the fact that he is using a Tajik SIM card, which implies that he was in the South, close to the Tajik border at the time the recording was made.
The conversation is littered with nicknames such as Parmash, Vasily Ivanovich and Makeech… I don’t recognise any of them, but I am sure that some of the locals would.
An expert in a report on the Russia Today, (RT), TV Channel suggests that the tapes are genuine records of a telephone conversation … judging by the quality of the recording and the apparent lack of editing … (although the Kyrgyz authorities say that some editing is evident in some of the recordings, but they wouldn’t give details for operational reasons … as it was an on-going investigation) … but exactly whose voices are on the tapes is still an open question which would require a full analysis.
If it was indeed Maxim and his uncle talking on the recording, then is somewhat surprising that Janysh, in particular, was caught out in this way … after all, he had been the Head of Kyrgyzstan’s security apparatus and must have known about the existence of such systems … even if the conversation opens with the comment that they are not too worried about the “our boys” being able to intercept the call, but are more worried the “Greater Ones” who have enough “technological tools” for the job.
Kurmanbek Bakiev, himself, seems to have learned that lesson, even if his close relatives haven’t and he is steering well clear of the controversy. According to some press reports he has gone on holiday to Turkey. The Turkish embassy has denied this but that hasn’t stopped a small picket outside the embassy being organized … although it doesn’t look as if Turkey will follow Byelorussia’s lead and withdraw all their diplomats when it looked as if there could be troubles over President Lukashenko’s support for his ousted Kyrgyz counterpart. Bakiev is apparently being careful not to talk to either his sons or brothers by phone and according to one report, he is alleged to have explained this with the comment: “I know if I contact them … then all the cases that you’re talking about will be dumped on me.”
Later, someone posted a note about the recordings on Twitter which gave a telephone number that belonged to an employee of the American Embassy as the source of the recordings. The embassy was forced to make a statement that they knew nothing about the postings. Curioser and curioser.
As if that wasn’t enough … there were more postings later on … but it’s probably enough for here.
Who could have been behind the postings …?
The RT report speculates that, as well as the Americans, possible contenders were the Interim Government spying on potential enemies, or a “wolf in sheep’s clothing within Bakiev’s own entourage”.
Atambaev, in his Press Briefing, said that the leaks could not have come from the Kyrgyz security services as “… their equipment is destroyed” and he went on “The Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Russians, Americans, Bakiev’s supporters eavesdrop …”. Former Prime Minister Feliks Kulov said that he thought the Maxim-Jaysh recording could have been made by the security services in the country where Maxim is staying … but that raises a lot of other questions.
In fact, it seems to me that, if the source was from within the Bakiev camp, then it doesn’t even have to have been posted by a dissatisfied or disillusioned person … the whole point behind much of the Maxim-Janysh dialogue was the need to maintain uncertainty and instability in the Republic … and this could be just another tool to do just that.
Indeed, that is exactly what has happened!
For the record:
Following the publication of these phone calls, one of the news agencies in the country asked the question “Who is interested in wiretapping and planting conversations?”, and organized a telephone survey to try and find the answer.
The replies they published suggested that people thought the process had been going on for some time … and that it was likely to continue for a long time.
One respondent said: “I think everybody knew about the wiretapping …” and as people often use the phrase “it’s not a subject for a telephone conversation” … especially when they want something, such as a favour or money, I think that this suggests that this might well be true.
There were concerns expressed about “human rights” and the “invasion of privacy” … but it was pointed out that it wasn’t just the intelligence services that had the capability to, and the motivation for recording conversations … anyone looking to discredit rival politicians could use the material in their struggle for power. One person commented on the poor quality of the recordings.
Bishkek