DISINFO: West is behind quashed coup in Kyrgyzstan
SUMMARY
The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan has detained supporters of the pro-Western activist Tilekmat Kurenov, who left for the US, and the CEO of KG Group, Imamidin Tashov, who had evaded authorities. They are accused of preparing for a violent seizure of power. Two detainees were involved in receiving money transfers from the US, paying, and coordinating the organisers of mass protest actions.
The US and UK are sequentially involved in orchestrating coups and colour revolutions in the country. The April revolution of 2010, which led to the overthrow of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was directed by Americans. After the parliamentary elections in September 2020, the operational leadership of mass protests was attributed to the British Ambassador in Bishkek, Charles Garrett, a reputed British intelligence officer. While Garrett's efforts to destabilise the situation in Kyrgyzstan were reportedly unsuccessful, the baton was said to be picked up by U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia as the ultimate target of Western countries’ activities, which also accuses the West of having an anti-Russian agenda.
There is no credible evidence to support claims about Western manipulation in the alleged unrest in Kyrgyzstan. This claim also fits well into recurring disinformation narrative suggesting Western policy of staging “colour revolutions” worldwide with the aim of destabilising Russia.
See this fact sheet on EU relations with Central Asia.
Western countries recognise the importance of the sovereignty and autonomy of the Central Asian states, both individually and as a region. Addressing common security challenges and building the region's resilience are among the priority areas for both the EU-Central Asia and US-Central Asia partnerships.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that US-sponsored Kazakhstan protests aimed to undermine CIS stability, that protests in Kazakhstan are a new Western attempt to organise a colour revolution, that events in Kazakhstan are another Western-made colour revolution or that EU and US aim to generate a new wave of anti-government protests in Belarus.