KAZAKHSTAN: OUTREACH ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND

UNCLAS ASTANA 000867 DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (M. O'MARA) SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR THE AMBASSADOR FOR DRL A/S KRAMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KIRF PREL KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: OUTREACH ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND DISSIDENTS REF: State 108924 ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel, there are no high profile dissidents from un-free nations living in exile or seeking asylum in Kazakhstan. ¶2. (SBU) In the course of my work, I do, however, regularly meet with leading Kazakhstani democracy and human rights activists, including Yevgeniy Zhovtis, director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights, Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, chairman of the Civil Society Foundation, and Zauresh Battolova, head of the Polyton Club. In addition, I frequently meet with the leadership of the main opposition political parties, including Bulat Abilov, Oraz Zhandosov, and Tulegen Zhukeyev of Azat (the former True Ak Zhol party),and Zharmakhan Tuyakbay and Amirzhan Kosanov of the National Social Democratic Party. ORDWAY