Some local observers doubt that Tursunbay Bakir uulu is powerful enough to realize his ambitious ideas. Law granted him access to any documents, even those top secret, and to cabinets of state officials, including the President, the right to participate in governmental meetings, etc. But that’s it. All the ombudsman can do is to send petitions and recommendations to the “White House”. And officials are able to decline the statements, if they consider the arguments not strong enough.

The position of the Kyrgyz ombudsman is supposed to be politically neutral. “My position makes me a mediator between power, opposition, and people,” said Tursunbay Bakir uulu, “And I will not be tolerant to those who violate citizens’ rights, whether it be officials or their political opponents.” As a parliamentary deputy, he was rather a centrist politician who supported neither the government, nor its opponents. His devotion was more to religion than to politics. This presents him as an objective, fair, and honest person in people’s mind.

Analysis of letters addressed to the ombudsman showed that 70 percents of them are complaints regarding court decisions and actions of representatives of law enforcement. Bakir uulu states that he is about to conduct investigations, and send his assistants to observe court processes. The ombudsman promises, in his annual reports, to reveal specific names and structures exposed in violating the freedom of citizens. On this basis, the President and the Parliament are to make special decrees. Bakir uulu says he will send his reports to the General Procurator. The ombudsman hopes many of the public officials who violated citizens’ rights will be removed from power and punished by law.

First of all, Tursunbay Bakir uulu intends to solve the problem of human rights violations in penitentiary and military institutions. He sent President Askar Akaev a proposal to establish the position of psychologists in jails. After this, the first Kyrgyz ombudsman plans to put order to the situation in hospitals and for pensioners. Soon, donors willing, his organization will publish brochures on citizens’ legal rights and distribute free of charge among the population.

Meanwhile, the ombudsman cares for himself, too. He brought a lawsuit under the Criminal Code against Olga Bezborodova, editor in chief of the local “Vecherny Bishkek” newspaper, and Daniyar Karimov, political reporter, who published an article on the possible connection of Bakir uulu with illegal Islamic organizations. Asked how this lawsuit goes with his statement of freedom of the press in the country, the ombudsman says, “Is there anyone to call me an effective rights protector, when I am unable to defend those of my own?”

The human rights protector thinks his job might be not too effective because of scarce finance. Annually, the government will allot about 86,000 dollars to the institute of ombudsman. Bakir uulu finds this sum insufficient to solve the human rights problems in the country. Hence he hopes for cash from international organizations. The ombudsman especially relies on the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that, most likely, is going to support many of his projects. In particular, Bakir uulu plans, with financial aid from UNDP, to send his employees abroad to attend special courses, and to invite foreign specialists to Kyrgyzstan. By the way, the ombudsman, due to UNDP’s sponsoring help, has already traveled to Poland, Russia, Georgia, and Ukraine to benefit from the experience of foreign colleagues.

“There is a good deal of things for me to do in Kyrgyzstan,” said Bakir uulu as he came back full of impressions. Nothing has been done yet, but the first Kyrgyz ombudsman is making detailed plans of work for the future. Citizens, both the government and opposition hope he will be the one to change the human rights situation in the country. Will the ombudsman justify the confidence of society?