KAZAKHSTAN: LOCAL MEDIA FINALLY REPORT RETURN OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002262 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/WCI, DRL, SCA/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER PINR PHUM KDRG KAWC KPAO KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: LOCAL MEDIA FINALLY REPORT RETURN OF GTMO DETAINEE DOLKUN KERIMBAKIYEV, INTERVIEW SISTER REF: ASTANA 2159 ASTANA 00002262 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Kazakhstani media did not report the return to Kazakhstan of Guantanamo detainee Dolkun Kerimbakiyev until one week after his arrival. The government made no announcement about the return. Several media outlets subsequently interviewed his sister, who claimed that Kerimbakiyev is a changed person, with weakened health and a damaged psyche. Kerimbakiyev's family permitted a journalist from the Kazakh-language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to see Kerimbakiyev, but he was reportedly talking to himself and did not respond to any questions. END SUMMARY. MEDIA SLOW TO REPORT KERIMBAKIYEV'S RETURN ¶3. (SBU) The Kazakhstani media were slow to report the October 31 return to Kazakhstan of Guantanamo detainee Dolkun Kerimbakiyev (partial ISN 521, also known as Abdul Rahim). The Kazakhstani government issued no statement about the event, and no Kazakhstani media outlets reported on the Department of Defense's October 31 press release announcing the return of an unnamed Kazakhstani citizen (who was easily identifiable as Kerimbakiyev, since he was the sole remaining Kazakhstani at Guantanamo). Local journalists apparently became aware of the return only on November 6, when the Kazakh-language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported the story based on an Agence France Press report that conveyed DoD's announcement. Responding to a journalist's question at a press conference in Almaty later on November 6, the Ambassador confirmed that there were no remaining Kazakhstanis at Guantanamo. ¶4. (U) During November 7-11, three Kazakhstani newspapers considered to be pro-opposition or independent -- "Respublika," Vremya," and "Megapolis" -- published articles in their print or on-line editions on Kerimbakiyev's return which included interviews with his sister, Elmira Kerimbakiyeva. The Kazakh-language service of RFE/RL also spoke with her. (NOTE: State-owned Kazakhstan TV reported Kerimbakiyev's return during the November 10 broadcast of the Kazakh-language "Ayna Aqparat" news show. END NOTE.) SISTER CLAIMS HE IS A "CHANGED PERSON" ¶5. (SBU) Elmira Kerimbakiyeva was interviewed at her family residence in the village of Kyzyl Sharyk, which is located in Almaty oblast, about 120 kilometers from the city of Almaty. She confirmed her brother had returned home to the village. (NOTE: Per reftel, we had been told by MFA officials that Kermibakiyev would be returning to the city of Almaty. END NOTE.) The various articles reported that she made the following statements: -- Dolkun Kerimbakiyev has not yet recovered from his confinement. He is a changed person, is afraid of people, and has been crying frequently at night. His health was weakened by his imprisonment, and his psyche is not fully in order. -- Kerimbakiyev has said very little about Guantanamo. He claims he virtually did not see the sun for seven years, because detainees were taken on walks for just two hours a day in the morning, while the prison walls were so high that the sun did not rise above them at that time of day. He further claims he was not permitted to talk with other detainees during these walks. Kerimbakiyev has not said anything about being subjected to "torture," but does maintain that bright lights were turned on in his cell 24 hours per day. ASTANA 00002262 002.2 OF 002 -- Kerimbakiyev's uncle went to Astana to meet him on his arrival on October 31. (NOTE: Per reftel, we had originally understood that this relative was a brother. END NOTE.) Because Kerimbakiyev was not issued any documents by the MFA upon arrival, it took him three days to make it home from Astana. -- Kerimbakiyev's uncle and aunt will help him find work, but only later, after he has recovered sufficiently. -- Kerimbakiyev's mother went to Pakistan together with his younger brother to look for him seven years ago when he disappeared. She never came back. (NOTE: In a July 11, 2007, interview with "Vremya," Kerimbakiyev's aunt, Nurkhan Sabirova, maintained that Kerimbakiyev's father died shortly after his birth and that his mother abandoned her children and disappeared not long afterwards, as a result of which she raised Kerimbakiyev. END NOTE.) ¶6. (U) Kerimbakiyev's family permitted a journalist from RFE/RL to enter Kerimbakiyev's room. The journalist reported that Kerimbakiyev was talking to himself, but could not be understood. The reporter tried to speak with Kerimbakiyev, but he reportedly did not respond. HOAGLAND