Why Kyrgyzstan's Coup Could Spell Trouble for the United States

by Daniel J Gerstle · 2010-04-08 08:32:00 UTC
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Yesterday's protests against the reformist leader of Kyrgyzstan led to what appears to be a violent change in government. An opposition group looks to have taken power, and along with its intentions of restoring the country is a call for a NATO military base to be closed.

Don't be afraid to keep up on Kyrgyzstan and the Kyrgyz people simply because their name is hard to spell. Here's a quick crash course. The Kyrgyz are of the Turkic family of peoples, related to the Kazakh, Uzbeks, and distantly the Turks of Turkey. Their country is largely rugged and mountainous, their tradition herding. But when the Russian Empire expanded toward China, Russians incorporated the Kyrgyz lands and eventually the region became a Soviet Socialist Republic bordering Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan internally, and China externally. Fast forward to 2005, the corrupt, Moscow-allied Soviet leader steps aside for a pro-U.S. reform movement.

Soviet-era leader Askar Akayev held power in Kyrgyzstan long after it became a nominal democracy, but the Tulip revolution led by reformer Kurmanbek Bakiyev in May 2005 forced him out.

Bakiyev appeared not only to be the creator of a bright democratic future for Kyrgyzstan, but potentially a decision-maker who might steer the country out of lock-step with Russia and toward a balancing-act friendship with Russia, the U.S., and China. Yesterday's protests, led by Rosa Otunbayeva and Keneshbek Duishebayev, swelled with anger that Bakiyev had not followed through on promises of reform and rumors that he and his family were profiting over others while in power.

What's important for Westerners, and Americans, to know is that Kyrgyzstan poses little threat to any country. Instead, it has felt threatened by Russia wishing to force its hand like a pawn in alliance deals, and by the U.S. which uses its space for military sorties into Afghanistan. There has been a controversy for several years between Kyrgyzstan and the U.S. over the military base, security for the Kyrgyz, security for the Americans, rent, overstaying welcome, and other arguments.

As yesterday's protests grew, Bakiyev apparently allowed security forces to fire on protesters to keep them from storming buildings. But the deaths of about 68 people only enraged the crowds.

Now with Otunbayeva and Duishebayev tentatively trying to restore order and Bakiyev refusing to resign, it's uncertain what will happen next.

Photo credit: Globevisions

Daniel J Gerstle is a journalist, human rights researcher, and humanitarian aid consultant. He is Editor and Chief Correspondent for HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine.
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