June 1 , 2005
For Immediate Release
For more information:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written by:
Kimberly Jones
(801) 863-7011
UVSC Student Witnesses Overthrow of Power in Kyrgyz Republic from the Embassy
Utah Valley State College student Adam Keller interned as assistant to His Excellency Baktybek Abdrisaev, ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States, last semester at the Kyrgyz embassy in Washington D.C. Shortly after his appointment, Keller found himself at the center of a coup and revolution that took place in Kyrgyzstan following the second round of parliamentary elections March 13.
“My overall impression in January was that the government of Kyrgyzstan was trying to make elections legitimate,” Keller said. “By March 15 runoff elections became final and it was apparent that the Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev had influenced the polls.”
Following the elections, opposition had taken over four of the Kyrgyz government buildings. The Kyrgyz Embassy in Washington D.C. was flooded with Kyrgyz citizens demonstrating against the president.
“The people were upset with the results of the elections,” Keller said. “The Embassy is Kyrgyz soil so we can’t hold them back.”
The protestors were allowed to come in, and Keller said he witnessed a plea for democracy and he assured protestors their ideas would be represented.
However, on March 24 a coup took place in Kyrgyzstan. Opposition forces came to the capital and infiltrated the president’s compound. Protesters had taken over key government buildings including the president’s palace, government building and state television studios, reinstating the previous government. President Akayev immediately fled the country.
“We were shocked in D.C.,” Keller said. “Everyone was very scared. Ambassador Abdrisaev told me he deemed the coup unconstitutional and he still supported the president.”
The next week ambassador Abdrisaev drafted a statement that Keller had to translate for a press conference in Washington.
In his statement, the ambassador said he expected America to support the president of Kyrgyzstan or else he would consider them supporters of the unlawful regime taking over the country.
“After the press conference the interim prime minister of foreign affairs in Kyrgyzstan said the ambassador in D.C. would be released of his duties and sent home to Kyrgyzstan because he was loyal to the president.” Keller said.
Abdrisaev served as acting ambassador until the end of May. In Kyrgyzstan, Akayev has since resigned from the presidency and presidential elections are set for July 10.
“I’ve developed a greater appreciation for our country,” Keller said. “It’s amazing what we have established here. This experience put that into perspective for me.”
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