No single international organization had faced such a criticism and dislike in Kyrgyzstan as OSCE did lately. The dislike is virtually flowing out of the “second capital” – Osh that recently suffered from wide-scale bloodletting events – which is almost daily shook by demonstrations against the OSCE advisory group’s deployment. Several hundreds of “concerned residents in the south” are unhappy with this idea, since they believe “this will lead to the dissolution of Kyrgyzstan as it did in Kosovo, South Ossetia”. Local observers say authorities in southern Kyrgyzstan are challenging their superiors in the capital with such games despite the fact Bishkek initiated the arrival of OSCE police offices and lodged an official request.

However, there are those who support the arrival of “experienced OSCE police advisors who speak at least one locally used language and will bear no arms.” Primarily Roza Otunbayeva, who is facing an enormous pressure both from within and without to pull the country together, which is, some local observers suggest, “falling into two parts with Osh Mayor Myrzakmatov playing a die-hard.”

According to many Osh residents and some political scientists, the anti-OSCE protests are funded and organized by certain politicians. The minister of emergencies, a member of the Roza Otunbayeva team, even has gone as far as to call it “a game” of some political forces.

Although no names are uttered, Osh residents make their “most probable” guess – Osh Mayor Melisbek Myrzakmatov, who is seen as part of the problem and not solution, as one would expect from him in such a situation.

“Because, an Osh resident told neweurasia.net, it is in no way a time to be expressing ones’ civil position! Look around, the town is half destroyed and there are [people] who do not want a group of some 25 unarmed policemen [52 officers will be split between Osh and Jalalabad Oblasts]. Apparently, these [rallying] people have not suffered during the June bloodshed, or they are merely fulfilling someone’s orders and getting paid. The only person I can think of in this town is the one so articulate about his disagreement with the police deployment idea – Myrzakmatov.”

It is indeed somewhat curious to hear the city head openly calling himself “a nationalist” and challenging his direct boss – the president.

“The decision of the Osh city council to refuse to deploy the OSCE police advisory group, numerous ‘popular’ rallies against the deployment and the mayor’s claims our security forces can handle the situation sound in unison. Hence, there is an orchestrated show going on in this town,” a local observer told neweurasia.net in Osh. “Looking at these parties, one can clearly see that there is only one man who is politically capable of orchestrating it.”

As said earlier, OSCE had never faced any problems in Kyrgyzstan before. Not even when it issued harsh and strong language reports about “violations and lacking standards” during elections in the country since 2000. The oscewas very much welcomed when it funded an upgrade of local police equipment and granted various assistances to the ministry of interior.

Following the events unfolding, one is motivated to think that critical rhetoric against the OSCE police deployment became apparent and heard louder following the international community’s pledge to provide $1,1 USD, of which a big chunk is to be channeled to Osh and Jalalabad for restoration.

While such decisions are being adopted in Bishkek, many of those who lost their homes during the June events are “very concerned this money will not be spent properly”, should the current head of town remain.

“He is responsible for letting the bloodshed happen in the first place. He doesn’t deserve his seat at least because of that! And I hope Otunbayeva is coming here today with some good news for those who became literally homeless “thanks” to the mayor!”