KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, APRIL - MAY 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001246

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TAGS: PGOV PHUM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, APRIL - MAY 2007



1. The "Almaty Notes" series is intended to maintain focus on
developments in civil society, the media, and the opposition in
Kazakhstan's "southern capital" following the move of the Embassy to
Astana.

President Meets with Moderate Opposition Leaders
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2. On April 23 in Almaty, President Nazarbayev met with opposition
leaders Alikhan Baymenov and Zharmakhan Tuyakbay. At the meeting
with Baymenov they discussed urgent problems of political
development of the country, humanitarian and cultural issues
including the development of Kazakh language, and patriotic
upbringing of the young generation. At the meeting with Tuyakbay
they discussed constitutional reforms. According to a National
Social-Democratic Party press release, Tuyakbay called the
president's attention to violations of the law during the recent
formation of Almaty City election commissions. Tuyakbay also
reportedly stressed the necessity of a dialogue between the
authorities and opposition parties and public organizations.
(Interfax, April 23)

Attempt to Picket City Court Disrupted
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3. On April 19, the mothers and wives of eight "Shanyrak Defenders"
kept in detention attempted to picket the Almaty City Court
building. The women demanded that their husbands and sons be
released and the criminal cases against them be dismissed. The
police disrupted the action. Two participants were detained.
(Megapolis weekly, April 23)

'Victims' in Abilov's Case did not Appear in Court
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4. The May 3 hearing of Bulat Abilov's case at the Almalinskiy
district court in Almaty was disrupted because the 'victims' in the
case failed to appear in the court. (Nachnyem s Ponedelnika weekly,
May 4)

Concerns about Overly Intensive Construction in Almaty
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5. At a meeting with prominent businessmen in Almaty on April 21,
President Nazarbayev recommended ending intensive construction in
Almaty because the city infrastructure cannot support such
development and it is hazardous for the environment. (Vremya
daily, April 24)


6. On April 24, Prime Minister Masimov directed Almaty Oblast and
City akims to terminate land sales in the region until there is a
special order. "It is not a secret that some companies purchase
lands at the cadastre [tax assessment] cost and then sell it at
market cost," Masimov said. Due to this, Masimov ordered that "all
commercial lands in Almaty City and Almaty Oblast should be passed
to the 'Zhetysu' special corporation. The money this corporation
will earn should used to develop utility services and
infrastructure." (www.gazeta.kz, April 24)


7. The Almaty City administration plans to demolish a unique seismic
station located in the mountains close to the city. In place of the
station the administration intends to build a net of cafes and
restaurants. (www.geo.kz, April 24)

NGO Calls on President to Dismiss Almaty City Akim
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8. Activists of the "Let Us Defend our City" committee held a press
conference on April 24 in Almaty to brief journalists about the
city administration's refusal to grant them a permit to hold a rally
in the center of the city. According to the activists, Almaty City
Akim Tasmagambetov has ignored the president's and prime minister's
orders to put an end to construction in Almaty. "By doing this,
Tasmagambetov creates a dangerous situation in the southern
capital," the committee's statement reads. The statement calls on
the president to dismiss Akim Tasmagambetov. (www.gazeta.kz, April
24)

State Secretary Met with Ethnic Minority Leaders
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9. During a visit to Almaty Oblast, State Secretary Oralbay
Abdykarimov met with leaders of ethnic minorities to talk about
interethnic accord. (Kazakhstan TV channel, April 25)


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Preparations for Maslikhat Elections
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10. The Central Election Commission has opened the first training
center in Almaty for e-voting machine operators. As part of
preparations to September elections to Maslikhats, more than half of
the city precinct election commissions are slated to be equipped
with e-voting machines. (TV Channel-31, April 25)

Aynur Kurmanov will not be arrested
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11. On April 23 the city court of Almaty rejected a motion filed by
the Bostandyk district procurator who asked the court to arrest
Aynur Kurmanov for organizing unsanctioned picketing of the
"Almatyzher" office on March 30. Kurmanov had been fined for this
action, but the procurator found this punishment too light.
(www.incar.info, April 23)

MILAS