Irina Karamushkina: “Russia can help Atambayev!”

Irina Karamushkina is the deputy of Zhogorku Kenesh (parliament) of the Kirghiz Republic of IV and V convocations. She is the member of Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan from 1995 the leader of which was the President of the Kirghiz Republic Almazbek Atambayev.

Before the work in Zhogorku Kenesh, being the employee of the Department of education of the Mayor’s Office of Bishkek, she has created the city children and youth organization “Shyktanuu” – “Inspiration”, having united all youth and children organizations for leadership advance among the youth. She has the continuous pedagogical experience of 27 years, has a rank of the adviser of municipal service of the third class. She was appointed the deputy minister of education during the work of Provisional government.

Irina Karamushkina told to our portal what occurs today in the Kirghiz Republic.

- The president of the republic Almazbek Atambayev, opening the World Billiard Cup in Bishkek, noted that this spring he meets with the hope that it will bring not new alarms as it was frequent earlier, but new hopes. What will you say about a situation in Kyrgyzstan this spring?

- All the same it is disturbing on the soul. I can judge our policy because 17 years was in opposition, fought against authoritative and clan, corruption regimes, for the real democracy in the republic. Therefore I see some things about which others prefer not to speak.

Two years ago the spring was disturbing and tragic and many people in Osh were lost in the international conflict in the summer, collision was exploited by revanchists and bandits. Memories of these, not far events, cause concern that somebody wouldn’t cause a splash of the simple citizens again in his interests. The principles of the secular and democratic state with the protection of the rights of any citizen of the country are in the Constitution of the Kirghiz republic, but it is a pity that not all of them are carried out in life. And still more, of course, a serious destabilizing factor is the actions of present so-called opposition.

- Why do you call the opponents of a course of ruling coalition and president Atambayev as “so-called” opposition?

- Because the real oppositionist is that person who conducts the political activity proceeding on the assumption of the principles, instead of benefit! What is this opposition if yesterday these people supported those who plundered the country and poked the budget money in the pockets. Akhmat Bakiyev quite recently ran away; ran away accidentally … And as some “national sources” tell: he was already seen in one of the fashionable Minsk restaurants celebrating the release … It was not possible for him to run away alone and it means, that party works and very active!

Or let’s take the meeting in Osh on which the authorities gave 15 days on implementation of requirements of “opposition forces”; the Government only started to work after a new coalition, while the new ministers were appointed and affirmed, them were demanded to be taken away, no case and arguments work, they measured by themselves: if you are in the government, it means you are the corrupt official or the thief of budgetary funds! All this creates the tension in political and social life and by that, keeps the whole republic in suspense.

- What did they demand on the meeting in Osh?

- To fight against corruption, for example … But I want to notice here that corruption of the present power got as though in inheritance just from those forces which feed these meetings. I am familiar with many documents and I can tell that simply awful things occurred. So, business was completely supervised: it was decided how to be this or that businessman whom was successful in business, from whom to take the lands away and to whom, on the contrary, something to give. And all this was reported to the son of president Bakiyev - Maxim or his henchmen who worm their way now into the power. For example, how the Supreme Court behaves in this or that question and what it is necessary to undertake …

And today these people, supporting the corrupted power, just also criticize us, make a complaint in allegedly insufficient democratic character!

- The election system often changes in the republic. Why it occurs?

- Though it is the XXI century, but it is necessary to consider the features of the Asian mentality. It would be desirable to live as in Europe and that those who with you of one sort, would be promoted, so to say, on acquaintance. Therefore our system didn't settle yet; now the elections, for example, are carried out according to party lists and with application of a principle of quoting, but remnants are still strong. It is the tribal and regional relations. The voters, especially after elections in local authorities, began to complain even more often and all this leads to dissonance and division. Here we have to think over.

We look for our way. The new system has obvious shortcomings, but there are also pluses. Here is my personal example: if not new system, so I’m as the person representing not the title nation and moreover the woman hardly would pass in parliament. And now it is possible.

At the time of Bakiyev, everything was solved by party Ak-Zhol in parliament: as he say, so it will be. And nobody's opinion wasn't accepted. I stuck a mouth with an adhesive tape to myself, left with the poster “You can’t force the truth to be silent - it will find the way all the same!” at Parliament meeting, being in opposition to pay attention to shouting problems, didn't put a hand to heart during execution of a national anthem specially, i.е didn't share the feelings with the last power, for what I was awarded the public remark from the ex-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev … But the social democrats have technology by a principle during 17 years: they beat us, but we grow stronger!

Our group of 11 deputies always designated the position in previous structure of parliament, but the power simply ignored it. And now the questions are discussed; the party fractions watch closely one after another. One more example: recently the Prosecutor General's Office asked to deprive of parliamentary immunity of the deputy from fraction “Republic” Iskhak Pirmatov. Earlier it was impossible. It is possible to say that it is the first such precedent! Though, frankly speaking, on those bases the Prosecutor General's Office needs to make answerable the half of the parliament …

It is not a secret, that there are many people rich and very rich in parliament. Let work for the country benefit! But only those people who honestly develop the business, instead of stick to the budget as bloodsuckers. Corruption is very sharp theme for Kyrgyzstan. Also it would be good, if the political parties pay attention to it, instead of forcing intensity.

- After all the ruling coalition has appreciable advantage in an alignment of forces in parliament?

- Four parties forming the coalition have 92 mandates and the opposition has 28 mandates. But the matter is not only in it! What process I observe now: not only those who left on April 7 on the square and weren't afraid of bullets go to the power, but those who, on the contrary, fought against it!

It is possible to say that the new power didn't become well-established yet. There is a strong counteraction. Take the party “Republic” - it was very quickly “framed” and it already goes in forefront according to the polls, as there is very strong financial support. And there are people in power structures, who thirst for a revenge. The same Akhmat Bakiyev never would manage to run away, if not the venal support in the power. And this fact speaks about many things.

- Many call the present president of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev as the pro-Russian politician? Are such judgments well-grounded?

- I can speak about this person because it is the leader of my party – the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, the member of which I am for 17 years. He, certainly, doesn't prevaricate when speaks about the sympathies for Russia. I never noticed any nationalist moments in his speeches and performances. And he will never make profit, doing business on the budgetary injections and investments with kickbacks. As it was done by the first and second presidents of Kyrgyzstan!

He will never do such gangster tackles that were applied by Bakiyev, Atambayev! And after all what Bakiyev did?! He took money from Russia, then deceived and took money from the Americans. Principle is such: who give more, with those person I will play … And many inhabitants of the republic wish to help the new president because know that he will never do that!

He won’t drag the relatives to the power. The president has six children, but he very strictly looks, that the story with children of the previous heads whom in the people simply called “princes” didn't repeat.

- Atambayev has many supporters, but there are also opponents, isn't he?

- It is very difficult to the president in the south of the republic – there is a powerful pro-Bakiyev lobby who does everything to lower Almazbek Atambayev's rating. They don't want that the president would be the real national leader. Yes, he has the mistakes too, but he is only at the beginning of the way and is capable to make much for prosperity of our republic.

And I want to say about one more thing: the president Atambayev spent many years in oppositions and endured a lot of things and this experience will be useful for him today on the presidency too.

- The new power has a lot of ideas: and to take the experience of other countries and to enter the concept of “the Kyrgyz” into the passport … Not all approve that and it is quite clear …

- Many people come to us with the experience today. The same Turks, for example. But the president pays great attention to the reforming of law enforcement agencies and fight against the corruption. Therefore the experience of Georgia is so demanded. Already the group of deputies Zhogorku Kenesh was there and studied a situation on a place. The president Saakashvili also was on the inauguration in Kyrgyzstan.

About “the Kyrgyz”. Not everything is so simple here. Once still the first president of the republic Askar Akayev proclaimed: “Kyrgyzstan is our general home”. But the words should be back by deeds. And what we observe now? There is a strong Islamization. The mosques are more than schools the country! There is an extremist literature and groups of radical sense. While their activity is insignificant, but we know that “X -day” can come and then everything can quickly change.

The idea of emergence in the passport of the record “the Kyrgyz” is, probably, the attempt to smooth things over. Probably, the attempt is premature. It already took a hostile reception in the south of the republic.

- Are any threats of national security of Kyrgyzstan?

- In principle, we have good relations with neighbors, but there are also the problems, for example, in the relations with Uzbekistan. Kyrgyzstan is very open country, and, probably, even excessively. The bill of liberalization of foreigners’ entrance to the republic is now considered. The Uzbek party already expressed categorically against such steps – it considers that it can lead to penetration of Islamic extremists on the territory of Uzbekistan. They can simply close our border as a precautionary measure …

- And what is it possible to say about the destiny of the American base?

- In my opinion, the president was adjusted very seriously when said that its activity will be stopped after the rent term. Under the contract it was necessary to warn for half a year … But then something began to change somehow. I distinctly see it. There were any adjustments, conversations… And in principle nothing prevents to solve a question: the term expired, so thanks and good-bye! And it would be met by the population with understanding. But I don't see any definiteness today.

- There is such point of view that the youth in the republic “is actively manipulated” by the American non-governmental organizations and the Russian influence is great only owing to that the inhabitants of the republic go to us to earn on a daily bread. Do you agree with it?

- No! After all, the majority of the population supports the exclusion of the American base. And the youth understands too that the American presence won't be limited by creation of limited quantity of workplaces at all! The interests of the USA here are diverse. It both base and interest to mining richness of the country, after all it is possible to find all Mendeleyev's table, including important strategic raw materials. Well, and, of course, the USA aspires to keep here the zone of influence for what the scientific production associations are actively used.

Surprising things happen: these scientific production associations achieved the access to such information that simply wonders. They already want to know everything about the defence budget, what is available on arms …

- The situation is difficult in the republic. But nevertheless, and it is the admitted fact, that the Republic of Kyrgyzstan is the unconditional leader in Central Asia as regards to democracy. There are bases to believe that this process will proceed. Will the relations of Russia and Kyrgyzstan develop so actively?

- Really, we absolutely other country in respect of the democratic device, than our neighbors. We can't live how live in Uzbekistan or Tajikistan. And if we want, that the country normally developed, we should help Almazbek Atambayev with honor to execute the six-year mandate. There are those who would like to play the nationalist card. But it is impossible to allow it! We already have a bitter experience in this respect.

And as to the relations with Russia, so it is not necessary to repeat the obvious things: our union is necessary! It is important that our relations change for the better at the time of the president Atambayev. I hope that it will be further.

After Putin and Atambayev's recent meeting which was showed on television in detail, even the nationalists changed their tune. As if they were not so understood in a question of the Russian language which is official language in the republic under the Constitution …

Russia should help in the support of Atambayev, differently the danger of those “spring” motives with which we began our conversation, won't disappear.