KAZAKHSTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CONTINUED

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 003308 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO S/WCI C WILLIAMSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017 TAGS: AF KZ PHUM PINR PTER SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CONTINUED DETENTION OF DETAINEE REF: STATE 162192 Classified By: DCM Kevin Milas; reasons 1.5(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on December 11 to Zhan Kystaubayev, head of the international affairs department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular section. ¶2. (C) Kystaubayev reported that the Government of Kazakhstan has not changed its position on the issue of Kazakhstani citizens held as detainees at Guantanamo Bay. He said that if the remaining Kazakhstani detainee, Dolkun Kerimbakiev, is guilty, he should be punished, and if not, he should be released when the USG is ready to release him. He said that if Kerimbakiev is released, the Government of Kazakhstan will accept him and will monitor and control him as appropriate. ¶3. (C) Kystaubayev said that the Government of Kazakhstan does not intend to inform Kerimbakiev's family about the Administrator Review Board's recent decision to continue holding him, because his family has been in contact with journalists who have written articles criticizing the Government of Kazakhstan for failing to secure his release (and also criticizing the USG for the prolonged detention). He said that if asked, he will tell the family that Kerimbakiev's case remains under review. ¶4. (C) Kystaubayev said as part of Kazakhstan's earlier agreement to accept the return of three detainees, the USG promised to provide Kazakhstan with full case materials concerning on the matter, including facts learned during the investigation of their cases. However, he said that the USG has not provided this information to date. He again requested the information, both for the three detainees already returned to Kazakhstan and for Kerimbakiev. He added that among other things, this information was necessary to justify any requested monitoring or restrictions on the detainees once they return to Kazakhstan. ORDWAY