Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA2143
2009-12-14 08:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: MFA DIPNOTE ON CDC "ILLEGAL SMUGGLING"
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UNCLAS ASTANA 002143
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, L, OES, SCA/EX, DS/IP/SCA, DS/ISI/CI
STATE PASS TO CDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KHIV SENV KG KZ UZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MFA DIPNOTE ON CDC "ILLEGAL SMUGGLING"
UNCLAS ASTANA 002143
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, L, OES, SCA/EX, DS/IP/SCA, DS/ISI/CI
STATE PASS TO CDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KHIV SENV KG KZ UZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MFA DIPNOTE ON CDC "ILLEGAL SMUGGLING"
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) Embassy Astana has received the following diplomatic note
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning a criminal case
involving alleged 2006 "illegal smuggling" of HIV-infected blood
samples from Kazakhstan to the United States for analysis in the
Centers for Disease Control laboratories. Following is the text of
the note (informal translation).
3. (SBU) Diplomatic Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Kazakhstan No. 22-1/1821 dated 12/07/2009, received 12/10/2009:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the Embassy that the
Committee of National Security launched Criminal Case No
08751904110147 on September 10, 2008 in accordance with Article 209
Paragraph 1 (economic smuggling) of the Criminal Code, and found
evidence that the CDC Office in Central Asia used the Embassy's car
to illegally export 81 samples of HIV-infected blood from Kazakhstan
to the United States in 2006.
In 2006 experts of the CDC Office in Central Asia participated in
investigation of mass cases of HIV infection among children in South
Kazakhstan Oblast. Within the framework of that investigation the
National AIDS Center handed over 94 blood samples of HIV-positive
children to CDC representatives in Kazakhstan for identification of
their genotype in Atlanta, United States. The blood samples were
delivered in two shipments in August and December 2006.
The first shipment exported in August 2006 was sent to the United
States through the Almaty International Airport, with all required
customs documents submitted.
The second shipment of 81 HIV-positive blood samples was received in
the National AIDS Center of Almaty city by Uzbek citizen R.A.
Konovalov, driver of the CDC office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and
exported by him through the Zhibek Zholy border post to Uzbekistan
by Chevrolet Suburban No D001474, owned by the U.S. Embassy in
Kazakhstan, on December 9, 2006. The blood samples were exported
without the required permission of the Government of Kazakhstan or
mandatory customs declaration of shipments.
In order to make the case clear and legitimate, the Ministry kindly
requests the Embassy's clarifications and assistance to help the
relevant government agencies make a legal decision.
The following information is requested:
-- Did Chevrolet Suburban No D001474 belong to the U.S. Embassy in
Kazakhstan?
-- Where is this car now? And who is the owner?
-- Does the U.S. Embassy have any information about export by CDC of
HIV-positive blood samples from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan for its
further delivery to Atlanta, USA?
-- If so, why was the export of blood samples not registered in
accordance with the established procedures? How was the first
shipment registered?
-- Why was the second shipment of blood samples exported via
Uzbekistan?
-- Which employees of the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan or CDC Office
in Kazakhstan were involved in export of blood samples from
Kazakhstan?
-- Who initiated export of blood samples from Kazakhstan for their
analysis in the United States?
End diplomatic note.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Post has already notified CDC in Almaty and is
gathering information for a response by diplomatic note. END
COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, L, OES, SCA/EX, DS/IP/SCA, DS/ISI/CI
STATE PASS TO CDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KHIV SENV KG KZ UZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MFA DIPNOTE ON CDC "ILLEGAL SMUGGLING"
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) Embassy Astana has received the following diplomatic note
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning a criminal case
involving alleged 2006 "illegal smuggling" of HIV-infected blood
samples from Kazakhstan to the United States for analysis in the
Centers for Disease Control laboratories. Following is the text of
the note (informal translation).
3. (SBU) Diplomatic Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Kazakhstan No. 22-1/1821 dated 12/07/2009, received 12/10/2009:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the Embassy that the
Committee of National Security launched Criminal Case No
08751904110147 on September 10, 2008 in accordance with Article 209
Paragraph 1 (economic smuggling) of the Criminal Code, and found
evidence that the CDC Office in Central Asia used the Embassy's car
to illegally export 81 samples of HIV-infected blood from Kazakhstan
to the United States in 2006.
In 2006 experts of the CDC Office in Central Asia participated in
investigation of mass cases of HIV infection among children in South
Kazakhstan Oblast. Within the framework of that investigation the
National AIDS Center handed over 94 blood samples of HIV-positive
children to CDC representatives in Kazakhstan for identification of
their genotype in Atlanta, United States. The blood samples were
delivered in two shipments in August and December 2006.
The first shipment exported in August 2006 was sent to the United
States through the Almaty International Airport, with all required
customs documents submitted.
The second shipment of 81 HIV-positive blood samples was received in
the National AIDS Center of Almaty city by Uzbek citizen R.A.
Konovalov, driver of the CDC office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and
exported by him through the Zhibek Zholy border post to Uzbekistan
by Chevrolet Suburban No D001474, owned by the U.S. Embassy in
Kazakhstan, on December 9, 2006. The blood samples were exported
without the required permission of the Government of Kazakhstan or
mandatory customs declaration of shipments.
In order to make the case clear and legitimate, the Ministry kindly
requests the Embassy's clarifications and assistance to help the
relevant government agencies make a legal decision.
The following information is requested:
-- Did Chevrolet Suburban No D001474 belong to the U.S. Embassy in
Kazakhstan?
-- Where is this car now? And who is the owner?
-- Does the U.S. Embassy have any information about export by CDC of
HIV-positive blood samples from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan for its
further delivery to Atlanta, USA?
-- If so, why was the export of blood samples not registered in
accordance with the established procedures? How was the first
shipment registered?
-- Why was the second shipment of blood samples exported via
Uzbekistan?
-- Which employees of the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan or CDC Office
in Kazakhstan were involved in export of blood samples from
Kazakhstan?
-- Who initiated export of blood samples from Kazakhstan for their
analysis in the United States?
End diplomatic note.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Post has already notified CDC in Almaty and is
gathering information for a response by diplomatic note. END
COMMENT.
HOAGLAND