On 5 September, Omurbek Tekebaev flew to Poland, through Turkey, to participate in an economic conference. On the airport, he was awaited by the Polish custom services, who were informed beforehand by Interpol in Astana that Omurbek Tekebaev and other accompanying parliamentarians were members of Hizb ut-Tahrir and were carrying contraband. While searching Tekebaev’s suitcase, they found a ‘matryoshka’ (nesting doll) with about 600 gram of narcotics hidden in it. It turned out to be heroin with low quality, which, as the Polish law-enforcement agency said, did not have any commercial value.

In a week’s time, Tekebaev was acquitted by the Polish court on the ground that “Tekebaev is a victim of political intrigue.” “If he was carrying the contraband, then it must have been detected in Kyrgyzstan. He did not have access to his suitcase until he landed in Poland”, goes one of the arguments. Another reason was that the public in Kyrgyzstan reacted to it as a “provocation,” given that he is a high-ranking politician, and one of the leaders of Movement for Reforms, which constantly pushes the government to fulfill their demands.

After his arrival from Poland, he was welcomed with applause in the Parliament. The parliamentary commission, which was assembled to investigate how the setup against Tekebaev was hatched, revealed an explanatory document of the deputy chief of Security at Manas international airport, Nadyrbek Mamyrov, a former NSS employee. It stated that the Deputy Chairman of the NSS, Janysh Bakiev, a brother of president Kurmanbek Bakiev, gave an order to Mamyrov to execute a “special operation”, to bring Tekebaev’s luggage to a certain place. According to a videotape from airport cameras, the starkest evidence in the case, it became clear that Tekebaev’s suitcase disappeared for 15 minutes into Mamyrov\'s office.

On 12 September, Janysh Bakiev, who was recommended by Prime Minister Felix Kulov in March 2006, resigned from his position with the President’s approval, on the official pretext of moving “to another position”. The Chairman of the NSS, Tabaldiev, also resigned, saying that he, although having no direct involvement in the case, bears “moral” responsibility before Parliamentarian Omurbek Tekebaev.

The government also created a commission to investigate the case, led by Adahan Madumarov, the State Secretary. But parliamentarians like Bolot Sherniyazov and Kanybek Imanaliev, who were included in the commission, left it referring to it as a “commission of matryoshkas”. “The government is shameless. With one hand it sets Tekebaev up, and with another justifies him,” reasoned Kanybek Imanaliev.

After the “scandal” with Omurbek Tekebaev, the parliament embarked on drafting a resolution. It consisted of 12 points: to recognize the “tandem” between the President and Prime Minister as “unconstitutional”, to create a “coalition government” led by the president, to reform the constitution, to shift the NSS from the president’s control to government’s, to institute proceedings against Former Deputy Chairman of NSS, Janysh Bakiev, as well as other measures.

“If it is necessary, I will leave,” said Prime Minister Felix Kulov as a response to the parliament’s criticism of the “tandem”, which was initially created as a means to stabilize the political and social environment after the March 2005 events. The prime minister was one of those who suggested that the NSS should be under the government’s control. The president in his turn is categorical about keeping the NSS at his disposal.

Apparently, the president doesn’t share the views of the parliament in terms of the resolution. “Please, don’t rush; every branch should work within its legal framework. You still need to specify each point. As for the dissolution of the government, you will have time to evaluate its work.” He also said that if his relatives are found guilty, they will bear responsibilities for their crimes. He stressed the importance of the investigation results.

Both Janysh Bakiev and Nadyrbek Mamyrov, who allegedly conducted this “special operation”, initially did not appear in public. After some silence, they rejected all the accusations of their involvement in the “scandal”, and questioned the authenticity of the incriminating documents. Janysh Bakiev provided an official interview opportunity in the state information agency Kabar, instead of in Akipress, where most journalists were officially called. Most journalists were unable to ask their questions.

In the end, Omurbek Tekebaev believes, nobody will be found guilty for the ‘provocation’. “They are abandoning their initial statements. It is understandable. If they are found guilty, firstly, they will face 15 years of prison, and, secondly, it will mean a political disaster for the incumbent government.”

Bolot Sherniyazov, a parliamentarian and member of the Movement for Reforms, believes that the outcome would have been much worse if Omurbek Tekebaev was detained in Turkey. “This was the primary plan. Istanbul is harsher in terms of drugs.”

Currently there are three inquiries – the government-led commission, the parliamentary commission, and the Prosecutor General’s Office – investigating the case. Nevertheless, it is said that so far the most effective one is the parliamentary commission.