KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR RAISES ZHOVTIS WITH KAZAKSTANI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001494 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/RPM, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR RAISES ZHOVTIS WITH KAZAKSTANI PRESIDENCY REFTEL: ASTANA 1470 Classified By: Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland: 1.4 (B),(D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On September 8, the Ambassador met with Presidential Foreign Policy Adviser, Kairat Sarybai, for a frank exchange on the case of internationally-respected human rights advocate, Yevgeniy Zhovtis, who was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to four years in a penal colony [reftel]. The Ambassador delivered a strong message on the importance of careful consideration of the court's procedural violations during the appeals process, and finding a way forward that ensures continued good bilateral relations. Sarybai expressed the government of Kazakhstan's strong displeasure with Embassy Astana's September 4 public statement, calling it "unfortunate and unexpected." At the same time, he assured the Ambassador that the court system will investigate all claims of legal violations. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador asked Sarybai to read the Embassy's non-paper [see text in para 11 below] before they started their discussion. After reading it carefully both in English and in Russian, Sarybai thanked the Ambassador for the information. He then commented rather testily that "there is no reason for a personal meeting, because the Embassy has already issued a statement." The Ambassador replied that a public statement [see text in para 10 below] and private conversations can differ considerably, and it is important to have a full, open, and honest conversation. Sarybai responded, "You know that all doors of all state bodies are always open to you. President Nazarbayev trusts you and has instructed us to listen and to have an open dialogue with the Embassy." ¶3. (C) The Ambassador outlined for Sarybai the current political context in Washington and elsewhere, listing recent Kazakhstani decisions that have caught Washington's attention, especially Kazakhstan's suspension of WTO bilateral negotiations and the passage of the Internet law. Emphasizing that his words were not a threat, the Ambassador stated that Washington is alarmed and closely watching this situation. He said, "Perception is sometimes more important than reality. It is our job, both you and me, to work together to manage the fallout from the current situation so that our top leaders are best served. Our bilateral relationship has been on an upward trend, and we both want that to continue." EMBASSY'S PUBLIC STATEMENT "UNFORTUNATE, UNEXPECTED, PERPLEXING" ¶4. (C) Sarybai said from prepared talking points that he needed "to point out principles." Starting with "the right to live," he specifically referred to the deceased by name. "Any action leading to a death must be properly investigated," Sarybai stated, and the Ambassador agreed. He then asserted the importance of the rule of law and an independent judicial system. The Ambassador again agreed. On the latter, he emphasized that "no one has the right to question the independence of our courts. Democracy is not just a method of co-existing; equality means no interference in internal affairs; and partnerships do not allow mentorship." Turning to the Embassy's public statement, Sarybai termed it "unfortunate and unexpected." He then looked at his notes and said he was asked also to call it "perplexing." ¶5. (C) The Ambassador again expressed concern over the reported irregularities in the court case and emphasized the importance of the appeals process. Sarybai responded, "As a friend, I have to tell you any public involvement is counter-productive." He added that the OSCE cannot be linked to this case. He assured the Ambassador of a proper appeals process. ¶6. (C) Reading from a spread sheet with statistics on similar cases, Sarybai commented somewhat archly that the Kazakhstani public wonders "why the U.S. Embassy has not reacted to all 136 similar such cases in the past six months." After the Ambassador responded by emphasizing Zhovtis' international prominence, Sarybai said that the public now "perceives specific ties between the U.S. Embassy and him [Zhovtis]." The Ambassador interjected that's nonsense because ASTANA 00001494 002 OF 003 Zhovtis is well-known to have regular public contact with many embassies and international organizations. Sarybai persisted, "Why in the case of Zhovtis are the rules different when you say the rule of law is the same?" He then huffed, "It's interference, in my opinion." "PRESSURE! BLACKMAIL!" ¶7. (C) The Ambassador once again emphasized the importance of perception and "that the opportunity still exists to undo some of the damage." Sarybai said, "I am always at your service -- before public statements." He then returned to his prepared points. "One: The case is not over. Two: The court can manage and investigate improper things, if they happened. Three: Do not make it a public affair with pressure and blackmail." On the last point, Sarybai explicitly linked the statement to a recent press interview in which the head of the OSCE Center in Astana had said that there was still a one-percent chance that Kazakhstan could be denied the 2010 OSCE chairmanship. Sarybai concluded, "The appeals process will definitely investigate how the case was conducted." ¶8. (C) The Ambassador acknowledged the government's unhappiness with the Embassy statement, but asked Sarybai to put it in the context of the keen international attention about the Zhovtis case even before the verdict. Sarybai again assured that "all legal procedures were proper and under the Prosecutor General's control" and that the court will give the final decision. Returning to the OSCE, he recalled the mutual cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States and said, "No cases should damage that relationship." Sarybai acknowledged Zhovtis' prominence and then repeated, "Unfortunately, a human is dead." He concluded, "If the investigation was improper, that will be taken into account." The Ambassador thanked Sarybai for the frank discussion, noting that there were not many other capitals where he could have such a frank discussion. In an unusual gesture, Sarybai walked the Ambassador to the elevator, rather than retreating to his office, as is common practice. ¶9. (C) COMMENT: It is clear the public statement the Embassy posted on its Web site on September 4 touched a raw nerve, specifically because the statement mentioned the OSCE but made no specific linkage to the Zhovtis case, a fact that the Foreign Ministry noted in its own public statement. Sarybai, who is a perfectly rational progressive, was clearly reflecting the views of the Big Boss and his more old-guard advisers. Kazakhstan still has the opportunity to recover some of its damaged prestige during Zhovtis' appeals process, a point we made as clearly as possible. END COMMENT. ¶10. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF EMBASSY ASTATA STATEMENT: [September 4, 2009] On September 3, internationally recognized human rights advocate Yevgeniy Zhovtis was convicted by a trial court of criminal negligence leading to grave consequences and sentenced to four years in a penal colony. In recent days, we have expressed our concerns about this case and urged the Kazakhstani authorities to provide Mr. Zhovtis access to fair legal proceedings, consistent with Kazakhstani law. We will continue to make the same request during the appeals proce3ss. We note that there will inevitably be intense international scrutiny placed on how the appeals process will be conducted because of Mr. Zhovtis' prominence in the international human rights community and as Kazakhstan prepares to assume the Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010. END TEXT. ¶11. (C) BEGIN TEXT OF NON-PAPER: GUILTY VERDICT AND SENTENCING OF YEVGENIY ZHOVTIS Because of the September 3 guilty verdict and sentencing of the internationally respected human rights advocate, Yevgeniy Zhovtis, ASTANA 00001494 003 OF 003 there is intense interest and deep concern at very high levels in Washington -- including by Secretary of State Clinton, President Obama's Special Assistant for Russia and Eurasia Michael Mcfaul, Members of Congress like Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator John Kerry, and many other influential people, both in the government and in the private sector. We have heard the Government of Kazakhstan's view that international human rights organizations are over-reacting to politicize this case, because they are always looking for a reason to criticize Kazakhstan. We cannot accept this view. We have heard the Government of Kazakhstan's position that Zhovtis was treated "like a normal citizen" -- i.e., that he committed a crime and must pay the price like anyone else. Indeed, that is the essence of Rule of Law. However, there appears to be reason to suspect that Zhovtis was not treated like a normal citizen. Details of the Zhovtis investigation and court case raise serious questions. Although the early stages of the police investigation were conducted normally and professionally, and although the family of the victim declined to press charges against Zhovtis, there is reason to believe that another element of the Government of Kazakhstan intervened in an ill-considered attempt to silence Zhovtis. An unusual number of significant procedural violations occurred during the trail, as Zhovtis' lawyers enumerated at their press conference, that will need to be considered carefully during the legal appeals process. How Kazakhstan handles the international criticism of the Zhovtis verdict and the decisions it makes for "steps forward," will be a strong indicator of its desire to play a responsible global role and, inevitably, will be considered a preview of how Kazakhstan will handle its 2010 OSCE chairmanship. The United States wants Kazakhstan's chairmanship to be successful, for the sake of Kazakhstan and, ultimately, for the sake of the OSCE and for the ideals of cooperation and security in Europe. Together, we have built a strong bilateral relationship and strategic partnership. We do not want the Zhovtis case to have a lasting, adverse impact on our relationship, on Kazakhstan's ability to serve effectively as the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, or on other initiatives we are in the midst of developing, like the Annual Bilateral Consultations, and other new ideas in both the political and security dimensions. As you consider next steps for the way forward, I urge you to take full advantage -- strictly within the limits of your law -- of the possibility that the court appeals process could provide. END TEXT. HOAGLAND