KAZAKHSTAN TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR 2007

UNCLAS ASTANA 003162 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G (ACBLANK),G/TIP, SCA/CEN (O'MARA),SCA/RA, INL/AAE (BUHLER),DRL, PRM, USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM SOCI KCOR PGOV KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR 2007 REF: A) SECSTATE 147242 B) ASTANA 1925 C) ASTANA 1267 D) ASTANA 2686 E) ASTANA 367 F) ASTANA 1061 G) ASTANA 3082 ¶1. Post is pleased that Kazakhstan has made significant progress in addressing key deficiencies highlighted in June 2007 TIP report and is pleased to submit the following information in response to reftel ¶A. All responses are keyed to reftel A. ¶2. PARA 6A (a): Three corrupt anti-TIP police officers were prosecuted during the reporting period. In March, the Committee for National Security (KNB) and the Ministry of Interior (MVD) initiated a criminal case against Captain Igor Morozov, the former head of the Anti-Trafficking Unit of the Organized Crimes Division of the MVD, on charges of falsification of evidence and abuse of professional functions. Captain Morozov is accused of providing protection for Olga Kodonidi, a local madam, and facilitating prostitution. The case is currently before the court (septel). In June, the MVD office in Akmola oblast initiated a criminal case against two police officers of the Anti-Trafficking Unit of Organized Crimes Division of the MVD. Both Senior Operative Officer Sydykov and Operative Officer Baisalbayev are accused of providing protection for a woman accused of operating a brothel. The investigation of this case is ongoing. ¶2. PARA 6A (b): A total of 19 trafficking cases were under investigation during the reporting period. Fourteen criminal cases were investigated under the trafficking in persons article of the criminal code and five under the trafficking in minors article. Eleven of the trafficking in persons cases were initiated during the reporting period and three were ongoing cases from 2006 and 10 cases were submitted to the court. In five of the cases before the court, a total of 17 traffickers were sentenced to prison terms. Four of the cases of trafficking in minors were submitted to the court and one was suspended due to failure to identify the traffickers. For details on 2007 trafficking convictions please see reftels B, C, and ¶D. ¶3. PARA 6A (c): In October, Prime Minister Massimov chaired the third Civic Forum, in which the GOK met with NGO leaders from throughout Kazakhstan, including leaders of anti-trafficking NGOs. The Ministers and Governors of oblasts reported on cooperation and interaction with NGOs over the last two years. President Nazarbayev has encouraged the GOK to support NGOs within the framework of the Concept for Civil Society Development, adopted during the second Civic Forum, and the Social Assistance Law that allows the GOK to provide grants to NGOs. From 2006 to 2007, the GOK provided grants to the Union of Crisis Centers for implementation of an information campaign to prevent sexual violence against women and children, child pornography, and human trafficking. According to the Ministry of Information, the campaign reached more than 3,000 people and 3,000 "Your Rights" booklets were distributed. The GOK plans to provide more grants to anti-trafficking NGOs in 2008. ¶4. PARA 6A (d): The GOK continues to actively provide anti-trafficking in persons and victim identification training to law enforcement officers. During the reporting period, in Karaganda the Anti-TIP Center of the MVD conducted five, four-week, in-service training courses for their criminal police and migration police officers. A total of 97 MVD officers from anti-trafficking units throughout Kazakhstan were trained. In addition to government anti-TIP trainings, Kazakhstani officials actively participated in the following US Embassy/INL courses: an anti-TIP training course in January (reftel E),an Anti-TIP Legislation Conference in April (reftel F),and a Kazakhstan-Turkey Liaison meeting in September. They also participated in other anti-TIP training events conducted by other donors. ¶5. PARA 6A, Other Developments: In August, a draft law on ratification of the UN Convention on Transnational Crimes and draft law on ratification of the Slavery Convention, Protocol of Changes and Amendments to the Slavery Convention, and the Additional Protocol on Slavery Abolishment were submitted to the parliament for approval. After approval by the parliament, the President must sign the laws to complete the process of Kazakhstan's accession to these conventions and protocols. In September and October, MVD successfully conducted two anti-trafficking operations. As a result of this operation, a number trafficking cases were uncovered and are now under investigation (reftel G). ORDWAY