LEADING KAZAKHSTANI POLITICAL COMMENTATOR DIES

UNCLAS ASTANA 000003 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN - O'MARA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KZ SUBJECT: LEADING KAZAKHSTANI POLITICAL COMMENTATOR DIES REF: 05 ALMATY 3284 ¶1. (SBU) Nurbulat Masonov, a well-known political commentator and one of the founders of Kazakhstan's International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, died suddenly on October 5. Initial press reports indicate that Masonov died as a result of a severe reaction to a food allergen. Masonov (age 52 and asthmatic) fell ill soon after returning home from eating lunch at an Almaty restaurant. As his condition quickly worsened, he experienced severe breathing problems and he died minutes after a doctor arrived at his home, without an oxygen bag, and attempted to treat him with an injection of an unidentified substance. ¶2. (SBU) According to Sergey Duvanov, a free lance journalist, director of the Polyton Discussion Club and close personal friend of Masonov, Masonov has suffered severe allergic reactions in the past. As a result, he sees no reason to suspect foul play, but instead believes that the attending doctor was incompetent and inexperienced and likely did not provide the right treatment for Masonov's condition. Masonov's family does not know what medicine the doctor provided him, as she took the ampule and syringe with her when she left Duvanov also reported that eight doctors participated in the autopsy, performed on October 6, instead of the normal two or three. The police ordered the autopsy filmed, to foreclose any speculation from the political opposition. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: In addition to founding Kazakhstan's International Bureau for Human Rights, Masonov was a member of the Soros Foundation and a former general director of the Polyton Discussion Club. In recent years, Masonov had muted his criticism of the government, culminating with his acceptance of a position created by the presidential administration and his support for Kazakhstan's OSCE chairmanship bid. Given his health problems and weakened links to Kazakhstan's opposition, there is no reason to suspect foul play at this time. End Comment. MILAS