ELECTIONS 2005



FOURTH WEEKLY REPORT
(21 February - 27 February 2005)

BISHKEK

ELECTRONIC MEDIA
NTRK (National Television and Radio Broadcast Corporation)
The news items on the candidates for deputy on television and radio contain the following: J. Bakiev - 850 sec. (31 %), M. Mukashev - 373 sec. (14 %), A. Japarov - 295 sec. (11 %), B. Akaeva - 213 sec. (8 %), A. Maliev - 284 sec. (10 %), Sadyr Japarov - 180 sec. (6 %), K. Baiterekov - 150 sec. (5 %), K. Bakiev - 102 sec. (4 %), R. Jeenbekov, B. Bolotbekov, T. Usubaliev - within 60 sec. each (2 %), T. Akun, K. Ajibekova, O. Malyevannaya, J. Jeenbekov, A. Kulbaev, Sh. Urkumbaev, M. Eshimkanov - within 25 sec. each Total: 2763 sec. on 18 candidates.
News airtime on television and radio covering the subjects involved in elections: information from the voters - 21,472 sec. (25.6 %), from the CEC - 22,317 sec. (26.6 %), from the Government - 2997 sec. (3.6 %), from the media - 19,000 sec. (22.7 %), from diplomatic missions - 3759 sec. (4.5 %), from NGOs - 3402 sec. (4.1 %), from the power structures - 6848 sec. (8.2 %), from political parties and movements - 2841 sec. (3.4 %), information about the opposition - 87 sec. (0.1 %),information about the KR President A. Akaev - 1034 sec (1.2 %), of which 478 seconds were recordings of his statements. Total: 83,757 seconds of television and radio airtime.
Tone of statements. News television and radio programs covered the following candidates in a negative tone: K. Bakiev, J. Bakiev, B. Bolotbekov, A. Japarov, Sadyr Japarov, R. Jeenbekov, J. Jeenbekov, K. Ajibekova, T. Akun, O. Malyevannaya, A. Maliev, M. Mukashev. The remaining candidates were mentioned in a positive tone.
Advertisement airtime on television and radio was used by the candidates as follows: R. Alkanov - 1430 sec. (8.9 %), T. Bapanov - 859 sec. (5.3 %), T. Kereksizov - 820 sec. (5.1 %), J. Mambetaly - 728 sec. (4.5 %), E. Torobaev, Ch. Abdullaev - 705 sec. (4.4 %), R. Mamyrov - 643 sec. (4.0 %), A. Tagaev - 526 sec. (3.3 %), I. Utiganov - 588 sec. (3.7 %), R. Bostonov - 571 sec. (3.4 %), M. Kaiypov - 514 sec. (3.2 %), Sh. Sadybakasova - 492 sec. (3.1 %), E. Torobaev - 454 sec. (2.8 %), N. Kasiev - 448 sec. (2.8 %), R. Jeenbekov - 415 sec. (2.4 %), E. Abdykadyrov - 375 sec. (2.3 %). Of the remaining candidates 7 used within 300 seconds (1.9 %), 10 used within 200 seconds (1.3 %), 15 within 100 seconds (0.7 %), and 27 within 60 sec. (0.4 %) of airtime.
Total: 16,043 seconds of airtime on 76 candidates.
Free airtime on television and the radio was used by the candidates as follows: B. Bekboev - 1176 sec. (5.8 %), D. Oskombaev - 1037 sec. (5.0 %), J. Jeksheev - 961 sec. (4.7 %), B. Kazakov - 919 sec. (4.5 %), A. Ermatov - 918 sec. (4.5 %), B. Akaeva - 780 sec. (3.8 %), B. Maripov - 730 sec. (3.5 %), K. Joldoshbaev - 714 sec. (3.5 %), R. Alkanov - 700 sec. (3.4 %), O. Karaev - 644 sec. (3.1 %), T. Subanbekov - 607 sec. (2.9 %), A. Raiymkulov - 560 sec. (2.7 %), K. Karabekov - 582 sec. (2.8 %), T. Ashyrkul uulu - 550 sec. (2.7 %). Of the remaining candidates 7 used within 500 sec. (2.5 %), 9 within 400 sec. (2.0 %), and 10 within 300 sec. (1.6 %) of airtime. Total: 20,594 seconds on 40 candidates.
Public service announcements on television and radio have amounted to 4560 sec. of airtime.
Talk shows with two candidates participating: R. Shabotoev and T. Umetalieva - 2460 sec.
In addition, an advertisement of Alga, Kyrgyzstan political party was featured - 1675 seconds of airtime.

KOORT (Kyrgyz Public Educational Radio and Television)
The news items featured the candidates for deputy in the following order: Yu. Danilov - 2329 sec. (40 %), M. Mukashev - 1554 sec. (26 %), R. Alkanov - 258 sec. (4 %), Z. Kurmanov - 228 sec. (4 %), K. Sherimkulov - 220 sec. (4 %), K. Karabekov - 200 sec. (3 %), K. Bakiev - 170 sec. (3 %), A. Aitikeev - 170 sec. (3 %), R. Shin - 218 sec. (4 %). The remaining 7 candidates used within 100 sec. (1.5 %) of airtime. Total: 5868 seconds of airtime on 16 candidates.
News airtime featuring the subjects involved in the elections: information from the voters - 1078 sec. (11.2 %), information from diplomatic missions - 763 sec. (7.9 %), from NGOs - 274 sec. (2.9 %), from political parties and movements - 57 sec. (0.6 %), from the power structures - 1510 sec. (15.7 %), from the media - 1540 sec. (16.0 %), from the CEC - 2328 sec. (24.3 %), from the Parliament - 572 sec. (6.0 %), from the Government - 1089 sec. (11.3 %), information on the KR President A. Akaev - 387 sec. (4.0 %), of which 84 seconds were recordings of his statements. Total: 9598 seconds of airtime.
Tone of statements. Information on the following candidates had a negative tone: K. Bakiev, J. Bakiev, O. Bakiev, K. Karabekov, Z. Kurmanov, A. Maliev, M. Mukashev, T. Ashirkul uulu. These candidates were mentioned in a positive tone: R. Shin, Yu. Danilov. The remaining candidates were mentioned in a neutral tone.
Advertisement airtime was used by the following candidates for deputy: Yu. Danilov - 686 sec. (67 %), M. Eshimkanov - 161 sec. (16 %), K. Sherimkulov - 140 sec. (14 %), E. Abdykadyrov - 30 sec. (3 %). Total: 1017 seconds on 4 candidates.
An advertisement of the newspaper Vechernij Bishkek was featured - 1798 sec.
There have been no public service announcements this week.
PIRAMIDA (television and radio company)
The news programs on television and radio featured the candidates for deputy as follows: B. Akaeva - 1036 sec. (42 %), M. Mukashev - 800 sec. (33 %), O. Zhuravlev - 620 sec. (25 %). Total: 2456 seconds on 3 candidates. .
News airtime featuring the subjects involved in the elections: from the voters - 891 sec. (42.6 %), from diplomatic missions - 44 sec. (2.1%), from the power structures - 69 sec. (3.3 %), from the CEC - 940 sec. (44.9 %), from the media - 149 sec. (7.1 %). Total: 2093 seconds of television and radio broadcasts.
Tone of statements. Negative tone was contained in the information on the candidate M. Mukashev.
Information on the candidates B. Akaeva and O. Zhuravlev featured a positive tone.
Advertisement airtime on television and radio was used by the candidates as follows: B. Akaeva - 1176 sec. (49 %), K. Stepanyuk - 604 sec. (25 %), V. Lyan - 214 sec.- 106 sec. (9 %), M. Eshimkanov - 173 sec. (7 %), K. Ajibekova - 124 sec.- 106 sec. (5 %), M. Salymbekov - 101 sec. (4 %).
Total: 2392 seconds on 6 candidates.
Public service announcements on the television and radio channel have amounted to 1034 sec.
NBT (Independent Bishkek Television)
The news programs featured the candidates for deputy as follows: M. Mukashev - 181 sec. (45 %), O. Malyevannaya - 176 sec. (43 %), J. Bakiev - 48 sec. (12 %). Total: 405 seconds on 3 candidates.
News airtime featuring the subjects involved in the elections: information from the voters - 171 sec. (30.3 %), from diplomatic missions - 47 sec. (8.3 %), from NGOs - 40 sec. (7.1 %), from political parties and movements - 56 sec. (9.9 %), from the Government - 152 sec. (27 %), from the media - 49 sec. (8.7 %), from the CEC - 49 sec. (8.7 %). Total: 564 seconds of television airtime.
Tone of statements. Information on the following candidates had a negative tone: J. Bakiev, O. Malyevannaya, M. Mukashev.
Advertisement airtime was used by one candidate: Sh. Kudabaeva - 359 sec.
Public service announcements amounted to 1787 seconds of airtime.
Almaz Radio (private radio station)
The news programs did not mention the candidates.
News airtime featuring the subjects involved in the elections: none.
Advertisements from the candidates and public service announcements: none.
Rebroadcast the programs of Radio Azattyk.

Avtoradio (private radio station)
The news programs did not mention the candidates.
News airtime featuring the subjects involved in the elections: from the voters - 245 sec. (74.5 %), from political parties and movements - 44 sec. (13.4 %), from the Government - 40 sec. (12.2 %).
Total: 329 seconds of airtime.
Advertisements from the candidates and public service announcements: none.
Azattyk Radio (Kyrgyz service of Radio Liberty)
The news programs featured the candidates as follows: A. Japarov - 1353 sec. (34.6 %), A. Maliev - 1281 sec. (32.8 %), B. Bolotbekov - 694 sec.- 106 sec. (17.7 %), Sadyr Japarov - 95 sec. (2.4 %), J. Bakiev - 63 sec. (1.6 %), K. Bakiev - 63 sec. (1.6 %). The remaining 11 candidates were featured within 50 sec. (1.0 %) of airtime. Total: 3910 seconds on 17 candidates.
News airtime featuring the subjects involved in the elections: from the voters - 5981 sec. (35.2 %), from diplomatic missions - 459 sec. (2.7 %), information about the statements of the KR President A. Akaev - 240 sec. (1.4 %), information on the actions of the Government - 1015 sec. (6.0%), from political parties and movements - 897 sec. (5.3 %), from NGOs - 1610 sec. (9.5%), from the CEC - 1459 sec. (8.6 %), on the actions of the power structures - 567 sec. (3.3 %), from the media - 3944 sec. (23.2 %), information on the actions of the KR Ombudsman - 95 sec. (0.6 %), information about the situation with MSN newspaper - 439 sec. (2.6 %), information about the situation with Radio Azattyk - 302 sec. (1.8 %). Total: 17,008 seconds of airtime.
Tone of statements: neutral.
Advertisements from the candidates and public service announcements: none.

MIR TV
The news programs did not give information about the candidates.
News airtime featuring the subjects involved in the elections: information from the voters - 3342 sec. (82.1 %), from the Government - 56 sec. (1.4 %), from diplomatic missions - 430 sec. (10.6 %), from political parties and movements - 30 sec. (0.7 %), from the power structures - 40 sec. (1.0 %), from the media - 27 sec. (0.7 %), recordings of a statement of the KR President A. Akaev - 147 sec. (3.6 %).
Total: 4072 seconds of airtime.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisements from the candidates: none.
Public service announcements amounted to 449 seconds of airtime.


Note on the Electronic Media section:

On 24 February 2005 starting with 18:00 medium waves, through which Radio Azattyk covered the entire country, were closed off for the radio station under the pretext of conducting a radio frequency auction. Starting with that day the station's programs are rebroadcast by Almaz Radio.
On 26 February 2005 between 22:28 and 22:44 Bishkek time the television channel of the National Television and Radio Broadcast Corporation aired a television film entitled Sovershenno Sekretno: Kyrgyzskaya Oppozitsiya Menyaet Professiyu (Top Secret: The Kyrgyz Opposition Changes Profession), which featured the candidates K. Bakiev, J. Baktiev, T. Akun, and K. Ajybekova in a negative tone. The film also covered the candidates A. Beknazarov, J. Jeksheev, B. Sherniyazov, G. Tokombaev, I. Masaliev, A. Sultanov, N. Bailo, I. Isakov, O. Tekebaev, A. Madumarov, and A. Maliev. These deputies are opposed to the country's authorities in power. This film totaled 960 seconds of airtime.
On 26 February 2005 between 20:23 and 20:25 Bishkek time KOORT television channel aired an item which featured the electioneering slogan of the candidate Kabai Karabekov with a negative comment.
All this information broadcast by these television channels in the evening of 26 February 2005 violates the norms of Kyrgyzstan's Election Code, Article 31, Paragraph 1 of which states that "electioneering shall be finished 24 hours before the voting begins".

PRINT MEDIA
Vechernij Bishkek (daily newspaper)
News items on the candidates contain: M. Mukashev - 500 lines (26 %), A. Maliev - 426 lines (22 %), O. Malyevannaya - 250 lines (13 %), G. Tokombaev - 240 lines (12 %), Sadyr Japarov - 150 lines (8 %), B. Akaeva - 74 lines (4 %), J. Bakiev - 70 lines (4 %). Of the remaining candidates 6 are featured within 50 lines (2 %) and 5 within 10 lines (0.3 %). Total: 1927 lines on 18 candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: from the voters - 1127 lines (48 %), from the CEC - 65 lines (3 %), from the media - 128 lines (5 %), from the power structures - 35 lines (1 %), from political parties and movements - 95 lines (4 %), from NGOs - 542 lines (23 %), from diplomatic missions - 169 lines (7 %), about the KR President A. Akaev - 182 lines (8 %). Total: 2343 lines.
Tone of the published items. Information on the following candidates had a negative tone: O. Malyevannaya, M. Eshimkanov, N. Bailo, J. Bakiev, G. Tokombaev, A. Maliev, M. Mukashev. Positive tone: B. Akaeva, B. Begaliev, O. Zhuravlev. The remaining candidates were mentioned in a neutral tone.
An advertisement item on one candidate was featured: O. Zhuravlev - 500 lines
MSN (private newspaper)
News items on the candidates contain the following: D. Sadyrbaev - 571 lines (29 %), B. Akaeva - 173 lines (9 %), O. Zhuravlev - 128 lines (7 %), R. Jeenbekov - 115 lines (6 %), K. Imanaliev - 112 lines (6 %), B. Bukasheva - 91 lines (5 %). Of the remaining candidates 5 were featured within 60 lines (3 %) and 21 within 40 lines (1.5 %).
Total: 1947 lines on 32 candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: from the voters - 1504 lines (38 %), from the CEC - 107 lines (3 %), from the Ombudsman - 107 lines (3 %), from the media - 1520 lines (38 %), from political parties and movements - 9 lines (0.2 %), from diplomatic missions - 16 lines (0.4 %), from the KR President A. Akaev - 742 lines (18 %). Total: 4005 lines.
Tone of the published items. Information on the following candidates had a negative tone: B. Akaeva, R. Shin, E. Abdykadyrov, K. Batyrov, B. Begaliev, A. Borubaev, O. Zhuravlev, K. Imanaliev, A. Matubraimov, S. Mederov, T. Usubaliev, J. Eshenkulov, Sh. Urkumbaev. These candidates were mentioned in a positive tone: B. Bukasheva, Sh. Sabdybakasova, D. Sadyrbaev. The remaining candidates were mentioned in a neutral tone.
An advertisement item on one candidate was featured: M. Eshimkanov - 39 lines.
GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPERS
(Slovo Kyrgyzstana, Kyrgyz Tuusu, Erkintoo)
News items on the candidates contain the following: R. Jeenbekov - 1010 lines (37 %), S. Jeenbekov - 516 lines (19 %), K. Sherimkulov - 400 lines (15 %), J. Bakiev - 150 lines (5 %),
E. Baisalov - 145 lines (5 %), B. Akaeva - 100 lines (4 %), A. Maliev - 76 lines (3 %), O. Tekebaev - 69 lines (2 %). Of the remaining candidates 24 were mentioned within 20 lines (0.5 %). Total: 2725 lines on 32 candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: from the Government - 300 lines (4 %), from the CEC - 860 lines (12 % ), from the voters - 2041 lines (29 %), from the media - 3430 lines (49 %), from political parties and movements - 26 lines (0.4 %), from the power structures - 180 lines (3 %), from the Ombudsman - 110 lines (2 %). Total: 6947 lines.
Tone of the published items. Information about the following candidates was featured in a negative tone: K. Bakiev, J. Bakiev, R. Jeenbekov, S. Jeenbekov, K. Karabekov, J. Mambetaly, O. Tekebaev, Sh. Urkumbaev, K. Sherimkulov. These candidates were mentioned in a positive tone: B. Akaeva, E. Baisalov, A. Keldibekov, A. Tanaev. The remaining candidates were mentioned in a neutral tone.
Advertisement items on the candidates: B. Isabekov, A. Kerimkulov, A. Sabirov - 560 lines each (28 %), A. Sakebaev - 250 lines (12 %), B. Ryskulova - 102 lines (5 %).
Total: 2032 lines on 5 candidates.
In addition an advertisement of Vechernij Bishkek newspaper was featured - 150 lines.
PRIVATE NEWSPAPERS (15 publications)
In the news items the candidates are mentioned as follows: A. Japarov - 942 lines (15 %), K. Sherimkulov - 583 lines (10 %), K. Bakiev- 576 lines (9 %), A. Maliev - 473 lines - (8 %), A. Hakimov - 400 lines (7 %), Ch. Abdullaeva - 300 lines (5 %), E. Abdykadyrov- 278 lines (5 %), R. Jeenbekov - 226 lines (4 %), O. Zhuravlev - 215 lines (3 %), B. Bolotbekov - 170 lines (3 %), B. Begaliev - 165 lines (3 %), Sadyr Japarov - 160 lines (3 %), V. Lyan - 156 lines (2 %), B. Akaeva - 154 lines (2 %), B. Borbiev - 140 lines (2 %), Aidar Akaev - 137 lines (2 %), J. Bakiev - 93 lines (1.5 %). Of the remaining candidates 5 were featured within 60 lines (0.8 %) and 44 within 40 lines (0.5 %). Total: 6130 lines on 66 candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: from the voters - 2627 lines (41 %), from political parties and movements - 1585 lines (25 %), from NGOs - 611 lines (10 %), from the CEC - 74 lines (1 %), from the media - 860 lines (14 %), from the Ombudsman - 15 lines (0.2 %), from diplomatic missions - 400 lines (6 %), from the KR President A. Akaev - 140 lines (2 %). Total: 6312 lines.
Tone of the published items. Information about the following candidates featured a negative tone: Aidar Akaev, B. Akaeva, E. Abdykadyrov, Ch. Abdullaeva, K. Bakiev, A. Beknazarov, B. Bolotbekov, A. Borubaev, R. Jeenbekov, O. Zhuravlev, A. Karpasov, V. Lyan, A. Maliev, A. Savitskij, M. Sakimov, Sh. Urkumbaev, K. Sherimkulov, B. Begaliev. These candidates were mentioned in a positive tone: B. Asanov, J. Bakiev, A. Japarov, Sadyr Japarov, R. Jeenbekov, A. Madumarov, B. Maripov, M. Mukashev, O. Tekebaev, A. Erkebaev, A. Ermatov, M. Eshimkanov. The remaining candidates were mentioned in a neutral tone.
Advertisement items on the candidates: A. Tagaev - 2000 lines (18 %), G. Tokombaev - 1200 lines (12 %), T. Ashirkul uulu - 715 lines (7 %), B. Isabekov, A. Kerimkulov, A. Sabirov - 560 lines each (5.5 %), T. Kereksizov, J. Mambetaly, M. Mukashev, T. Sariev - 500 lines each (5 %), Sh. Sadybakasova - 355 lines (3.5 %), K. Ismanov, M. Salymbekov - 300 lines each (3 %), O. Zhuravlev - 400 lines (4 %), R. Alkanov - 200 lines (2 %), A. Kulbaev - 174 lines (2 %), J. Jeksheev - 133 lines (1.3 %), K. Stepanyuk, E. Abdykadyrov, E. Aliev, A. Bogatov, M. Eshimkanov - 100 lines each (1 %). The remaining 3 candidates were featured within 50 lines (0.5 %).
Total: 10,106 lines on 25 candidates.
Special issues of the following newspapers were used for advertisement:
K. Isabekov - Senator Plus newspaper (special issue of 21 February 2005, 8 pages)
N. Kasiev - Senator Plus newspaper (special issue of 23 February 2005, 8 pages, 6000 copies).



RUSSIAN NEWSPAPERS IN KYRGYZSTAN (Rossijskaya Gazeta,
Komsomol'skaya Pravda, Moskovskij Komsomolets, Argumenty i Fakty)

News items on the candidates contain: K. Bakiev - 400 lines (29 %), K. Sherimkulov - 400 lines (29 %), O. Malyevannaya - 250 lines (18 %), T. Okenov - 250 lines (18 %), J. Bakiev - 90 lines (6 %). Total: 1390 lines on 5 candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: from the voters - 365 lines (58 %), from NGOs - 82 lines (13 %), about the KR President - 82 lines (13 %), from the media - 54 lines (8 %), from the CEC - 52 lines (8 %). Total: 635 lines.
Tone of the published items. These candidates were mentioned in a negative tone: O. Malyevannaya, K. Sherimkulov, K. Bakiev. The remaining were featured in a neutral tone.
There were no advertisement items on the candidates this week.


Notes on the Print Media section:

On 16 February 2005 Vechernij Bishkek newspaper held a celebration on the occasion of the newspaper's 30th anniversary (the newspaper was founded in 1974). The newspaper reported on its anniversary celebration in its Friday issue (see Vechernij Bishkek of 18 February 2005). The newspaper's editorial staff has intentionally timed this anniversary event to be held during the electioneering period. During the fourth week of electioneering the government media featured advertisements related to the newspaper's anniversary.
This violates the norm of Kyrgyzstan's Election Code, which in Article 30, Paragraph 2 states that
"it is forbidden to conduct anniversary or other celebrations of public and state significance during the electioneering period".
On 24 February 2005 a group of voters tried to barge into the office of MSN newspaper. In their hands they held placards with insulting statements addressed to the newspaper's editor and journalists. They were neutralized with the help of the police.
On 24 February 2005 the power supply to the Media Support Foundation printing facilities, which print virtually all opposition newspaper, was cut off. The printer had to resort to independent power supply by means of portable power generators.
The power supply was not restored between 24 February and 27 February (the ballot day), which resulted in the newspapers being printed in black-and-white, as opposed to their usual color format.