Disappointment in Kyrgyzstan years after the Tulip Revolution

EurasiaNet.org has posted a collection of audio slideshows based on interviews with Kyrgyz citizens about the state of Kyrgyzstan since the Tulip Revolution of 2005. The interviews covered a variety of topics and in general expressed disappointment with the results of the revolution.

Andrei Tsvetkov Executive Director, NTS Television	Tsvetkov discusses the misfortune of being robbed while trying to put together a broadcast the day of the Tulip Revolution. He is waiting for the government to fulfill its promise of privatizing state media outlets.	“The government promised full freedom for all media, but this process isn’t moving forward.”
Tynaim Karatayeva Migrant to Russia	Karatayeva discusses returning to Kyrgyzstan after working abroad in Russia. By some estimates 1/7 of the population has gone abroad to find work and better pay. She says the revolution gave her hope, but that she has seen no significant change since it happened.	“Kyrgyzstan is a wonderful country. If they paid us well, no one would leave.”
Ermek Niyazov Founder/CEO, Ermex Group Co.	Niyazov says he has lost the passion for politics the revolution once inspired in him. He complains that there is too much talk and too little action in the government. He is waiting for the government to reimburse him and the owners of more than 1,000 stores looted during the revolution.	“The government doesn’t have the right to celebrate the revolution until compensation is paid.”
Rinat Maksutov Police Captain	Maksutov says that the police were neither prepared nor equipped to cope with the unrest of the Tulip Revolution. He says that corruption on the police force stems from low salaries. According to Maksutov, bringing the Kyrgyz police force up to European standards will take time.	“Society’s relationship with the police will change, trust will increase, and, gradually, there will be a different approach.”
Adakhamjon Khakimov, Imam, Imam Ismail Bukhoriy Mosque	Between 1991 and 2005, the number of mosques in Kyrgyzstan grew from 39 to about 2,500. Khakimov discusses what he considers to be the tainting of religion by those who use it for political purposes.	“In Kyrgyzstan, domestic political extremism is stronger than religious extremism. This is the main source of instability.”
Narbekov Orozbai Farmer	Orozbai discusses the difficulties of farming in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz farmers have difficulty obtaining loans and have little access to farm equipment made after the fall of the Soviet Union.	“The government can’t do anything in such a short time. We have to wait, have patience.”
Galina Vershagina Schoolteacher	Kyrgyzstan is facing a shortage of teachers, as teaching is one of the most underpaid professions in the country. Vershagina says teachers’ salaries need to be raised by at least 50 percent.	“Teachers are leaving who could do a lot of good for this state. If they were quiet about this formerly, now they’re starting to talk about it.”
Khamrokhon Kamilova Laboratory Assistant	Kamilova, an ethnic Uzbek, says that the only change brought on by the revolution has been an increase in corruption. She says that she does not need her native language to become official in Kyrgyzstan, but that she wishes minorities were better represented in government.	“Since the new government has declared Kyrgyzstan to be a freer and more democratic country, why don’t they set a quota for national minorities in the state administration?”

Tags: Kyrgyzstan, Tulip Revolution