Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASTANA2019
2008-10-10 11:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: HARE KRISHNAS TAKEN TO COURT OVER LEGALITY OF
how-toVZCZCXRO3256 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTA #2019 2841130 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 101130Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3560 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0678 RUCNCLS/SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0080 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0790 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1964 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1912 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2249 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0235 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0157 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS ASTANA 002019
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: HARE KRISHNAS TAKEN TO COURT OVER LEGALITY OF
STRUCTURES
REF: ASTANA 1863
UNCLAS ASTANA 002019
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: HARE KRISHNAS TAKEN TO COURT OVER LEGALITY OF
STRUCTURES
REF: ASTANA 1863
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
¶2. (SBU) The Almaty Hare Krishna Society will head to court again
on October 13 over the plot of land that has been the subject of a
long-standing dispute with local authorities. The Karasai District
Court will decide whether the community's buildings -- which include
living quarters, a barn, and the Krishna's temple -- were lawfully
constructed. In August 2008, the Karasai district akimat (local
administration) annulled a 2001 order that had deemed the buildings
properly constructed and granted the Society use of the structures.
As the Society's representative, Maxim Varfolomeyev, explained to us
on October 10, the annulment of this order took place shortly after
the Society rejected the fifth land plot offered by the authorities
in exchange for their current property. (NOTE: As reported in
reftel, the Krishnas did not accept the plots because they
maintained that the plots were too far from Almaty and did not have
necessary amenities like water or electricity. END NOTE.) The
courts had ruled previously that the Society did not follow proper
procedures in acquiring the land, explained Varfolomeyev, and a
court decision deeming the buildings illegal would all but eliminate
the Society's claim to the plot.
¶2. (SBU) Varfolomeyev told us that he believes he has little hope
of winning the case. "The government is tired of playing nice," he
contended. He argued that if the court decides against the
Krishnas, "nothing will stop the akimat from demolition" of the
buildings. "We are expecting the worst," he said. Varfolomeyev
told us that the community is already trying to plan for how to move
the devotees and its 30 head of cattle. "We can always appeal the
decision," said Varfolomeyev, but he was doubtful any court would
decide in the Krishna's favor.
HOAGLAND