Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALMATY3609
2005-10-06 02:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
US Office Almaty
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: POLICE RAID KAHAR YOUTH MOVEMENT

Tags:  PGOV PREL KZ POLITICAL 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ALMATY 003609 

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN (J. MUDGE)

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: POLICE RAID KAHAR YOUTH MOVEMENT
OFFICES

REF: Almaty 2838

UNCLAS ALMATY 003609

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN (J. MUDGE)

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: POLICE RAID KAHAR YOUTH MOVEMENT
OFFICES

REF: Almaty 2838


1. (SBU) Summary: Police raided the Almaty office of the
Kahar movement on October 4, allegedly in search of proof of
foreign financing of the relatively controversial youth
protest movement. So far there have been no arrests or
seizures as a result of the raid. The action was likely
connected to a presidential decree ordering the procuracy to
step up its oversight of the electoral process. End
summary.


2. (SBU) The evening of October 4, eight police officers
from the city police department on the fight against
organized crime raided the Almaty office of the Kahar youth
movement (reftel). According to Kahar leader Bakhytzhan
Toregozhina, the officers said that they were looking for
"cash received from abroad." She refused to produce the
group's accounting records because the police did not have a
warrant. After other activists arrived, two platoons of
police (approx. 100) blockaded the office. Toregozhina told
POL FSN that in the three-hour search the only item of
interest the police found were leaflets containing election
rules, produced as part of a voter education campaign. The
police did not arrest anyone or seize anything.


3. (SBU) Toregozhina told POL FSN that the police said the
raid was the result of a complaint filed by the mother of
one activist. The activist believes his mother was
blackmailed and forced to file the complaint. As reported
reftel, Kahar's open links with youth movements in Ukraine
(Pora) and Kyrgyzstan (Kel-Kel) have made them a likely
target for GOK scrutiny.


4. (SBU) After completing the search, the police asked
Toregozhina to come to police headquarters on October 5.
Toregozhina told us she planned to comply with the request
and had hired well-known human rights lawyer Serikkali Musin
to accompany her.


5. (SBU) A Kahar representative called the Embassy during
the raid to report the events and request guidance. Post
advised the group to cooperate fully with the authorities.


6. (SBU) Comment: This event is likely linked to President
Nazarbayev's September 9 decree on elections, which
instructed the procuracy to increase its oversight of the
electoral process. For a Just Kazakhstan has reported
searches of several of its regional offices following
publication of the decree. Post will stay in contact with
Toregozhina to ascertain whether there is likely to be legal
action against Kahar. End comment.


7. (U) Dushanbe minimize considered.


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