Aynagul Saparbek kyzy, Chief Editor of the powerful opposition daily “Agym” gave a short interview on the Bishkek Press Club website on the new owner of the newspaper, which was recently sold by opposition Parliament member Melis Eshimkanov. Saparbek assured concerned readers that the new owner is a Kyrgyz citizen and not someone with any relations or favor towards Bakiyev’s network.
Agym was originally founded by Eshimkanov, originally a journalist. In response to the rumors that Agym (Kyrgyz translation for ‘Current’ or ‘Trend’) was to change its slant, Saparbek declared, “This is not so and never will be! Agym will live!” The paper will maintain its widespread circulation, its opposition slant and apparently, even one of the paper’s main editors – Eshimkanov’s brother. The only change is relocation to a new office. He also noted that Eshimakanov has no plans to start a new paper.
Along with Kyrgyz Ruhu, another opposition paper, printruns of Agym were forcibly confiscated by armed government forces on the night of the government crackdown on opposition protests on April 19. Last week, Eshimkanov announced in Parliament that he was going to sell the newspaper because he felt he was getting in the way of the newspaper. A slight change of Agym’s ownership with Eshimkanov’s apparent continuing involvement is hardly likely ease pressure on the opposition paper, or on journalist harrassment.
Meanwhile:
Eshimkanov is holding out on deciding whether or not to accept an offer to be the ambassador to Switzerland, but judging from the title of this Akipress report, he’s leaning towards joining taking Bakiyev’s offer. Just as these comments on Akipress(“Down with the traitor”), Kyrgyz blogger Azamat doubts his general credibility, given his dealings with Akayev in the past. If he does sell-out, IWPR’s recent reference to the Kyrgyz opposition’s ‘implosion’ may be more apt than it sounded at first.
Photo caption : Published two days before the government crackdown, Agym’s cover article depicted the Kyrgyz government as a seven headed dinosaur mowing down the Kyrgyz public. Prime Minister Atambayev is second head on the left, Bakiyev fourth on the left.
6 Comments
May 29, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Have the new owners made themselves known yet?
May 29, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Partial Observer – No news on the owners yet that I’ve heard. Naturally, I’ll post it here when news shows up. Meanwhile Eshimkanov is moving through Parliamentary approval commitees to chill in Switzerland.
June 1, 2007 at 1:10 am
Eshimkanov has formally been accepted for the Swiss Ambassador post.
“Sergei Masaulov, an expert with the Centre for Social Technologies, says the president’s offer reflects a new trend in Kyrgyz politics, where opponents are offered positions either in government or abroad.
“The ambassadorial appointments are for those who might be too politically dangerous or difficult at home here, so it’s better to send them abroad,” he explained.”
Tamerlan Ibraimov, director of the Centre for Political and Legal Studies, agrees, saying that “the authorities’ tactics have changed – [they are trying to] divide and weaken the opposition”.
June 2, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Is this the first time he’s been offered a post, do you think? Whereas in the past he may have refused it, I imagine he’s a bit fed up of politics, like quite a lot of the opposition (and the people in power) just now.
June 7, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Бегиш Аматов: Газету «Агым» купил Акаев
http://www.24.kg/community/2007/06/07/58328.html
???
June 9, 2007 at 1:17 am
A short recap of that story – (here’s a url that hasn’t changed)
According to Begish Amatov, an ex-parliamentarian, the Akayev family has a hand in the new ownership of opposition paper ‘Agym.’ Agym’s current owner, Bergaly Nargozueva, also owns the airline “Air Esen,” and allegedly has close ties with Kubanychbek Jumaliev (an Akayev-era minister) and Aidar Akayev. Nargozueva is also a close friend of Eshimkanov’s.
I checked the Defakto report (just a paragraph, on page 4) and it’s clearly billed as Amatov’s opinion. Not one totally discounted by Kyrgyz readers I talked to, but still conjecture.