KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, MARCH 10 - MARCH 23, 2008

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, MARCH 10 - MARCH 23, 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.

- NGO's Criticize Fight Against Extremism and Terrorism
- No Alliance with Aliyev
- Complaints, Protests Regarding Unfinished Construction
- Disabled Protecting Their Office
- Protest Against Ban on Demonstrations

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NGO's Criticize Fight Against Extremism and Terrorism
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2. International Human Rights Bureau head Yevgeniy Zhovtis and
Almaty Helsinki Committee president Ninel Fokina held a joint press
conference in Almaty on March 19 to express their concerns over the
government's tactics in fighting extremism and terrorism. Fokina
claimed that the Committee on National Security (KNB),Procurator
General's Office (PGO),and Interior Ministry are using the fight as
a pretext to expand their control over civil society. There is an
effort, she maintained, to persuade the public that mere affiliation
with a religious group can be a threat to national security.


3. Zhovtis and Fokina alleged that there were serious violations of
both Kazakhstani legislation and international legal principles in
two recent trials of alleged terrorists and extremists. On February
25, 2008, a Shymkent court sentenced 14 Kazakhstani citizens to
prison terms ranging from 14 to 19 years on charges of organizing a
terrorist group, promoting terrorism, and planning terrorist acts
against the KNB. On December 27, 2007, a Karaganda court sentenced
29 Kazakhstanis to prison terms ranging from 5 to 7 years for
inciting social, national and religious hatred and for participating
in the activities of the banned Hizb ut Tahrir group. Zhovtis and
Fokina explained that both these trials were held in camera, with
neither the defendants' relatives, nor the media, nor NGO's
permitted to be in attendance. In the Karaganda case, even the
defendants themselves were not present when the verdict was handed
down.


4. Several relatives of those convicted in the Shymkent trial
attended the press conference and briefed journalists about details
of the case. The relatives alleged that key physical evidence,
including weapons, computer discs, and leaflets, were planted by the
KNB. They maintained that none of the defendants admitted guilt as
they had done nothing wrong. Aysara Sugirova, wife of defendant
Dastanbek Sugirov, claimed that the KNB selected the defendants
largely because of their appearance: most of them had short beards
and wore short pants. Her husband, she insisted, was merely a
peddler of Islamic literature.


5. Fokina said that over the past few years, there has been a
significant increase in criminal cases for religiously-motivated
extremism and terrorism. Zhovtis argued that "preventative
measures" taken by law enforcement against individuals who are not
truly engaged in terrorist activities -- who may be doing nothing
more than passing out leaflets -- can actually further radicalize
such persons.

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No Alliance with Aliyev
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6. Panoroma weekly reported on March 21 that at a meeting of the
AytPark discussion club, Azat (formerly True Ak Zhol) leader Bulat
Abilov claimed that Rakhat Aliyev had tried to communicate with his
party through "middlemen," who had even offered financial
assistance. Abilov, however, ruled out any kind of cooperation or
alliance between the Kazakhstani opposition and Aliyev.

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Complaints, Protests Regarding Unfinished Construction
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7. The co-owners of two multi-family residential buildings in Almaty
organized a press briefing on March 17. They told journalists that
the KazStroy construction company began constructing their
residences in 2004. By 2007, one was 90 per cent finished and the
other one lacked only linkages to utilities. However, the co-owners
contended that as of 2008, KazStroy is moribund, and the company's
management has run off without finishing their homes. The Almaty
city administration has failed to come to their assistance.


8. On March 18, approximately 30 Almaty residents who had made
down-payments for new apartments held a protest rally against the

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construction companies that took their money, but failed to follow
through on the construction work. The protesters held up placards
with slogans including "Provide Our Children with Roofs",
"Construction Companies Must Be Held Accountable", and "Kazakhstan -
For the People." According to the demonstrators, the local
authorities have not responded to their complaints. They have NOW
addressed an appeal to President Nazarbayev, on whom they are
pinning their final hopes.

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Disabled Protecting Their Office
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9. On March 12, a group of disabled people from the Bibi-Ana
association picketed outside an Almaty municipal court building to
attract the public's attention to efforts to evict their
organization from its premises. Former Almaty mayor Viktor
Khrapunov sold the building in which Bibi-Ana has it offices several
years ago. The new owners want the organization out of this space.
Current Almaty mayor Imangali Tasmagambetov promised to resolve the
issue, but has not come through. The case is NOW being heard by the
municipal court.

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Protest Against Ban on Demonstrations
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10. On March 7, Almaty resident Olga Urazbekova held a one-woman
protest on Republic Square to draw attention to the government's ban
on demonstrations at this central Almaty site. She held up a poster
with the slogan "Kazakhstan is a Police State." Urazbekova was
arrested and taken to a local police station, but was released
shortly thereafter.

ORDWAY