Altaidan writes a witty comment, alluding to disorders that had been accompanying the revolution three years ago [ru]:

So, when are we going to celebrate the Day of Marauding? I suggest that the president makes a new law so that we could celebrate this holiday too.

Greis opines [ru] that

This holiday is only a political date! The society will not accept it as a holiday!

Nessa_ly is really sad to recollect her emotions from the unrest [ru]:

Hmm… so funny that I want to cry… after the revolution I was walking in the city with tears in my eyes..

Speaking about protests, Bektour Iskender and Anna Yalovkina have written an excellent post on Kloop blog portal about the protest of “I Don't Believe” campaign that was held on 17 March in Bishkek [ru].

The campaigners protest against the results of the last year's parliamentary elections for several months already and the participants were detained every time they showed up on the streets. now and the participants were taken to jail every time they were protesting.

Authors posted some photos from the protest and provided a brief history of these campaigns. The militia officier Taalaibek Shatmanov explained the detention that the protest was illegal and that citizens didn't want it.

Some bloggers tend to concur with the arrests. Seo aggrees [ru]:

Indeed, it is really the case - city residents are fed up with protests.

Perhaps, in support of these words, other hot topics in the Kyrgyz blogosphere are more on the entertaining side. Last week Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, hosted Billiards Grand Prix Eurasia 2008 [ru]. Even though Kanybek Sagynbaev, the world champion, did not win the contest, the Kyrgyzstanis were happy to watch the match:

“I am really glad that such kinds of events are being held in our country”, Svetofor_kg says [ru].

Besides, the Spring Fashion Week has started in Bishkek. Beautiful Kyrgyz models are presenting wool collection of the local designers. Elena Skochilo, one of the most famous bloggers in the country, has taken excellent pictures of them.

For instance, bretelka wonders (ru):

Have they all gone crazy? I can’t believe that it is possible to save gifts for two billion children in Kyrgyzstan. They will be all stolen!

Fancher seriously mulls over the idea (ru):

Guys, don’t you see the potential of this idea? First of all, everyone knows that Santa Claus does not exist. Santa Claus is a famous global brand. If this idea becomes very popular, then it will be a very important step towards tourism development in Kyrgyzstan (by attracting more tourists). I think that this idea is a good and realistic.

Another witty comment by Ataman Rakin (eng):

Iiiiikkk!!! Long beards.
They are certainly Wahhabis.

From such a funny start we can now move on to more real and serious issues that captured attention of bloggers. Anna Yalovkina reports on Kloop.kg that Bishkek city mayor Daniyar Usenov has announced the start of two-month “subbotnik” among school pupils and students. The word “subbotnik” derives from the Russian word “subbota” (Saturday) and means community work during which people clean streets, parks, and surroundings of schools and other public institutions.

Ladymystery notes (ru):

Not a bad idea at all. We have always cleaned the territory of schools. I want to see my town very clean, but unfortunately we pollute it more than we clean it.

However, the human rights defender Maksim Kuleshov protests against such a decision by Usenov and calls it a violation of child’s rights. He says that the Soviet Union is already over and our children are not property of Mayor. He also added that he and his team will hold protests against Bishkek Mayor’s office.

Men agrees with Kuleshov (ru):

Let the Mayor clean the city, not children from schools. Looks like the mayor decided to build Communism in Bishkek.

Talking about protests, everybody remembers the Tulip revolution of March, 2005 when ex-president Akaev had to flee the country. Now Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev and newly elected Parliament want to make an amendment to the Labor Code of Kyrgyzstan which will make the 24 March a national holiday of Kyrgyzstan.

Psyho complains about such a decree (ru):

Will the Parliament ever work and do something useful? It’s been two months since they are doing nothing.

However, on February 15, the Jogorku Kenesh [Parliament] deputy Ishak Masaliev raised [ru] the issue of AUCA’s location and gave a commission to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education and Culture to address his concerns.

The main argument was that the building of the university has a historical importance as it used to be home for the Kyrgyz government in Soviet times. He also alleged that the majority of AUCA students come from rich and highly-ranked officials’ families, while poor students from regions make up a very small percentage.

This statement spurred a heated discussion in the blogosphere. Ibragim from Nomadistan notes:

I can assure the readers that the majority of students represent middle class, most of them get financial aid in order to pay tuition fees. I guess our deputies should take care of serious problems of the whole country, but not give hard time to the developing institutions like AUCA….

Kanykei, an AUCA student, has also expressed her opinion:

I am not a government official's or a millionaire’s daughter. I am from a regular family, and I'm happy that I can get quality education in Kyrgyzstan without bribery, which, unfortunately, exists in most universities. AUCA really gives generous opportunities for all students.

Tuliprevolution condemns an old-school MP Masaliev:

Masaliev is still dreaming of Soviet-type free-of-charge education! Man, wake up, its capitalism era!!! Besides, if it's the point of private higher education institutions without scholarships, then why he did not start with another university of a kind, KRSU? A communist never says things like that about a university, controlled by a “bigger” brother…

Anonymous from Akipress blog says [ru]:

54 per cent of AUCA students come from the regions. My sister studies there and she has never had to pay or bribe teachers.

We can now only hope that this university - that brings together bright and intellectual young minds from all parts of Central Asia and beyond - will not be forced to leave the place where it is currently located.

According to them, during the elections there were huge violations such as discrepancies in voters’ lists, pressure on chairs, members of local election commissions, bringing university students to polling stations, and wide-scaled palm-greasing especially in rural areas. This allows coming to a conclusion that Kyrgyzstan is far from democracy yet.

However, a positive trend to note is the activeness of the civil society, especially among young people as a result of their dissatisfaction to the government after the elections. Young activists joined in demanding to announce the incumbent parliament and all its decisions illegitimate and to recognize the ruling of Bishkek local council on rules for holding rallies and manifestations unconstitutional.

The campaign by the young people “I don’t believe” was launched to hold a wide-scaled campaign and create a powerful nation-wide youth movement. It involves about 70 university students, ex-Foreign Minister Alikbek Jekshenkulov, ex-MP Temir Sariev, and human rights activists.

Blogger Mirsulzhan Namazaliev, a leader of the campaign, had a meeting on the 31 January 2008 with the US Ambassador in Kyrgyzstan Marie Jovanovitch to talk about current human right situation in the country and last trials over the participants of the campaign. He said:

I have told about illegal detention of participants and asked all democratic countries to use their mechanisms which can help to resist to movement of state to the side of authoritarianism and disrespect of fundamental human rights.

After a repeating number of peaceful protests and rallies in front of the Parliament, Bishkek city council and Central Square followed up by immediate arrests by Bishkek police, the young liberals are even more passionate about continuing what they are doing.

One the 14 February, Valentine’s Day, they are planning to have a big campaign called “I love you, Kyrgyzstan”. The campaign throughout the Bishkek center will be peaceful and will include about 100 participants. It will start at 11 a.m. at Ahunbaeva Street. The bloggers are quite supportive of this idea. For instance, Morrire says:

I pretty much like the idea of having such a campaign on this day. The name of the campaign coincides with the meaning of the Valentine’s Day.

Elvira67 left a nostalgic comment:

Who if not our youth will protect and love our country. I feel proud of them. I really miss the beauty of the country: mountains, rivers, and trees.

Yes, we do love our country…

Anyways, Elena Skochilo’s personal blog has become lately very popular as well, as her posts spur lots of interesting discussion on topics in politics, economy and society among bloggers of Kyrgyzstan. Last discussion on her blog was about the lady who several years ago foresaw that Kurmanbek Bakiev becomes a president of the country and also said that the next president after Bakiev would be a young man, who lives now in another country. Elena says:

Edil, come back, maybe you will become our next president!

Nuraika notes:

It would be really good if Edil became a president. But to be honest, I do not think he will ever become.

Mr. Carlson shares his opinion as well:

Even though Edil is too young to be eligible for presidency, he is not less professional and competent than our current president, despite the age difference. But first of all, he should return to the country. This is the saddest part of our discussion.

The newly elected members of Parliament are going to be supplied with official cars from now and on, announced Adahan Madumarov, Speaker of Parliament. Moreover, those deputies who have no place to live in the capital city will be also provided with flats. No wonder why such announcement created so much anger and dissatisfaction among Kyrgyz bloggers. For instance, makaroff says:

All deputies have their own flats and houses already. For example, Shadiev has 3 houses, so does Junusov.

Magnetic thinks:

Houses, flats, cars, petrol, cellphones, business trips… Their children go to private expensive school, universities and they are sent abroad to study. What for do we need such deputies? Tell me, what have they done for their people and country?

Kovboi asks:

How come those deputies who spent huge amount of money for preelection campaign have no flats? Absolute nonsense.

Bakiev’s recent decision to dismiss the prime-minister Almazbek Atambaev, who after being a strong opposition member, became a prime-minister and served 8 months only, was unexpected. It has spurred quite an extensive discussion and elaboration among bloggers as to what caused the head of state to do so. The long discussion took place on Edil Baisalov’s blog, who is the member of the Social Democratic Party. The chairman of the party is Atambaev. Baisalov believes that the president wanted to dismiss the prime-minister because for him Atambaev is a real threat in the upcoming elections as he is not letting manipulation of officials happen. Atambaev was criticizing the policy of the president towards elections, and obviously president did not like it and wanted to get rid of him, said Baisalov [ru].

Anonymous comments on this:

3 plus one new – four prime-ministers within two and a half years is too much. It is a sign that our president cannot get along with people he works with? Where are the management skills of the leader of the country?

Tarantino says:

Atambaev should understand that the president simply humiliated and made fun of him in front of the whole public. Atambaev, to be honest, deserves such a punishment.

Now, when Atambaev is dismissed and the party lists are submitted to the Central Election Committee, he is missing his chair both in the state and in the parliament. Talking about political parties and upcoming elections, bloggers are actively discussing each party, its platform, and most importantly its members, whose names are on the list for the election. Pre-election campaigns are intensively being organized by each party. They are now distributing agitation materials and using all the possible tools to do a PR campaign. The state authorities have set some limitation as to how and which equipment to use during agitation for crowds. For instance, they prohibited using loud-speakers, which caused a lot of criticism and protest among parties.

Here is how Baisalov reacts:

Our party will insist on using loud-speakers during the agitation campaign. I do not care about those who are against it. [ru]

Part7 does not welcome Baisalov’s idea. He goes on criticizing:

There are many other ways to promote your party, like printing brochures, holding campaigns for students and etc. But using loud-speakers disturb people and just cause extra noise.

Cross-posted on neweurasia.

Edil Baisalov informs that the Social Democratic Party, led by Almazbek Atambaev, had its VIII conference on 10th November in the Ballet and Opera Theatre and announced the party list. Atambaev, acting Prime-Minister of Kyrgyzstan, declared that he will do his best to ensure that the parliamentarian election is fair and transparent (AKIpress):

As a chairman of the party I will try to make sure that the election is held fairly and freely, since any gerrymander during and after the election will lead to disunity in the country. One revolution was enough for us.

On AKIpress forum, Aibek1961 leaves a witty reply to Atambaev’s statement:

Free election is something new in our practice. If it is going to be free and fair, then the Social Democratic Party would lose out.

The pro-presidential party Ak-Zhol that was created nearly a month ago had also held its conference and announced the party list members among whom there are Cholpon Baekova, a Chair of the Constitutional Court, State Secretary Adahan Madumarov and five ex-MPs. Kyrgyz bloggers were unhappy to see the change of the position of ex-MP Kabai Karabekov, who was one of the strongest opponents of the government during the April strike and now joined Ak-Zhol. For instance, bored says:

Shame on Karabekov! I did not expect it from him, I am really disappointed..

While Yad has a more realistic approach:

Nothing to be surprised about. For me it was even more surprising to see for how long he was pretending to be in opposition.

Ex-Prime Minister Felix Kulov is a chair of the Ar Namys party, which has not released its party list, because the law enforcement bodies launched an examination of the party conference's delegates. During a press conference given to AKIpress, he said:

Should there be mass falsifications during the parliamentary elections on December 16, the spring of 2008 would be very unpleasant in combination with increase of prices for food products.

Advocat expresses his opinion regarding the issue on Diesel forum (RU):

During [former President] Akaev’s tenure, the price for bread never increased, but now when everyone says that the lives of the people improve, the prices are going up. Perhaps a price increase is a sign of life improvement for our new government?

Mantank does not think that the government has something to do with the price:

The government cannot regulate market prices, so it is not really its fault.

Yesterday XnifgRon felt the price difference from his own experience:

Everyday I go for lunch to the same café. Today the waitress has brought us unbelievably thin slices of bread (3 times thinner than usual) and explained that it is due to price increase. I felt really sorry that from now we have to order three times as much bread.

On neweurasia Mirsulzhan gives (KYR) some reasons why bread is more expensive now.

People are also concerned very much about the new restriction the government is likely to set on entering the capital Bishkek during SCO summit from 4 till 19 August.

Asel posts an article (ENG) which says that the authorities are going to control the movement to Bishkek by checking all cars and probably limiting the flow of people coming to Bishkek. Unfortunately, no one from the authority can really address this issue and give concrete information on how the process is going to actually work.

This causes so much uncertainty and inconvenience among ordinary people who have no access to reliable information. For example, S@ilor says:

I have talked to the drivers of local minibuses or ‘marshrutkas’ about the regulation and what they know about it. Nobody knows anything. Looks like again we will find out about it last minute, and people will suffer from it.

Well, let me finish on a more positive note. Today, 1 August, is the Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev’s birthday. He is now 58 years old. The blogger morrire has conducted a small survey to find out what bloggers think would be the best present for our President. 30 bloggers took part in the survey and the results show the following:

41,4% - no present at all
37.9% - Chinese tractor
17.2% - head of sheep
13.8%- noodle
10.3%- air ticket to Moscow

You can view the full version (RU) of the survey here.

Funny choice of presents, huh?

According to survey’s results, unemployment, economic development, corruption and political crises are believed to be the biggest problems Kyrgyzstan is currently facing. People of the country are mostly concerned about the threat of war, uprisings, and economic and political instability, as the survey shows.

Some rather pessimistic notes on the survey’s actually positive indicators about Kyrgyzstan’s situation were posted on forums.

For instance, IoLa thinks that there has been a substantial change for the worse, even though the survey indicates overall economic and social progress and development. Zoltan also disagrees with some of the survey’s outcomes (both links in Russian):

Интересно кто это написа что им лучше живется, наверное жогорку кенеш опрашивали!?!?!?

Another interesting survey was conducted by the Russian online newspaper “Novyi Region”. It aimed to identify the sexiest president of the former Soviet Union.

Among the 15 heads of state, Kyrgyzstan's president Kurmanbek Bakiyev turns out to be the fifth-sexiest president. An interesting group discussion of this topic is found at Svobodnoe Pokolenie (Free Generation) and the survey's preliminary results were posted by Mirsulzhan on neweurasia (both links in Russian).

Честно говоря, меня тревожит факт, что нашему Салиевичу кроме сексуальности нечем хвалиться. Обыдна. Если Салиевич сексуальный - то Бабанов кто?

The blogosphere’s discussion was not limited to survey results only; the Failed States Index published annually by the Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy magazine has also attracted bloggers’ attention. Asel on neweurasia and Shannon on nonpon published posts on the ranking results, according to which Kyrgyzstan drops thirteen spots to #41. Here's what Shannon says:

Kyrgyzstan, on the other hand, allegedly stepped the furthest from the abyss, dropping a full 13 spots to #41. Encouragingly, the drop was due to lower rankings nearly across the board, albeit extremely marginal. The ability of Kyrgyz to flee the country seems to be the main factor keeping it ranked above Turkmenistan.

The Kyrgyzstani blogosphere constantly elaborates on current political issues, and the last two weeks were not an exception. A heated debate about a detained spy lady, a worker of Kyrgyz Parliament’s press service, who was allegedly relaying secret information to China, can be seen on different blogs.

Baisalov argues that there is absolutely no state and military secret information in the parliament, while anonymous notes that possibly it was just a PR action of Sutalinov, head of the State Committee of National Security, who likes acting this way. Naryn Aiyp comments on Djekshenkulov’s (former Minister of Foreign Affairs) statement that it was not right to announce on spy’s criminal action right before the upcoming SCO summit in Bishkek this August (links in Russian).