KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, JULY 21 - AUGUST 1, 2008

UNCLAS ASTANA 001380

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, JULY 21 - AUGUST 1, 2008


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.

Oppositionists Join With Nur Otan in Public Council
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2. A public council has been set up in Almaty to discuss and propose
solutions to social problems, Vremya reported on July 23. Council
members include the deputy head of the Almaty branch of the Nur Otan
Party, Tokmukhamed Sadykov, and Almaty's deputy mayor, as well as
opposition activists Asylbek Kozhakhmetov of the Shanyrak movement,
Petr Svoik of the Azat Party, Amantay Akhetov of the Communist Party
and Amirbek Togusov of the National Social Democratic Party.
Kozhakhmetov told Vremya that political differences between the
opposition and Nur Otan should not prevent the opposition from
working to resolve the problems of ordinary people. According to
Kozhakhmetov, the council will focus, inter alia, on land and
housing conflicts. The council's recommendations will be addressed
to the parties directly involved in a given dispute as well as to
the mayor's office.

Nazarbayev Recommends Limits on Almaty Construction
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3. During a July 24 visit to Almaty, President Nazarbayev instructed
Almaty mayor Akhmetzhan Yesimov to review construction in Almaty and
to take measures to limit it in the central part of the city. The
President recommended that new construction be concentrated on the
city's outskirts, in districts where many migrants have settled in
recent years. "Let construction companies demolish old housing --
legal and illegal -- there and provide the current residents with
new places to live," Nazarbayev argued.

Women Invalids Appeal to Timur Kulibayev
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4. The Society of Women Invalids, Bibi-Ana, has addressed an appeal
to Timur Kulibayev, President Nazarbayev's son-in-law, asking him to
not seize their office space. Bibi-Ana's lawyer purportedly learned
that Kulibayev was the ultimate owner of the company which bought
the building in which Bibi-Ana's office is located. This company
won a lawsuit against Bibi-Ana, resulting in a court ruling to evict
the organization from the building. Bibi-Ana's leader, Bibigul
Imangazina, said that the association unites 217,000 women invalids
and will not give up its fight to keep the office space.

Suicide Threat
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5. On July 21, Murat Telibekov and other activists from the Union of
Muslims held a press conference in Almaty to express their support
for Takhirzhan Akhmetov, who cut off his finger in public,
protesting the failure of court bailiffs to implement a court ruling
Akhmetov won against a business partner. At the press conference,
the Union of Muslims appealed to President Nazarbayev and Prime
Minister Masimov asking them to fire the Chairman of the Supreme
Court, the Minister of Justice, and the Prosecutor General. For his
part, Akhmetov threatened to send his amputated finger to Nazarbayev
or to commit suicide by self-immolation if Nazarbayev does not take
action to resolve his problem.

ORDWAY