KAZAKHSTAN: MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS SEEKS ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000559 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, INL/AAE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM KCRM KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS SEEKS ASSISTANCE ON "DEMOCRATIC" MEANS OF UPHOLDING PUBLIC ORDER ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) The Ministry of Interior (MVD) sent a letter to the Embassy seeking guidance on how police in the United States handle large public gatherings and uphold public order while ensuring that the civil rights of participants in such gatherings are protected. A translation of the full text of the letter can be found in paragraph 5. The letter says the MVD is studying foreign best practices in ensuring public security based on "democratic principles" and, in particular, is interested in learning about regulations that guide the use of force by U.S. police, tactics for the peaceful settlement of conflicts and crowd management, non-lethal equipment employed by U.S. police, and companies that produce such equipment and regulations governing their delivery overseas. The MVD proposes holding a meeting with Embassy representatives to discuss potential cooperation in this area. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: The MVD sent a similar letter to the OSCE center in Astana, but, as far as we know, did not send their request to other Western missions. We see two somewhat interrelated concerns that might have lead the MVD to reach out for assistance on these issues. The first is an increased awareness within the government that Kazakhstan's upcoming OSCE chairmanship will bring heightened scrutiny to the country's adherence to OSCE human rights commitments and standards. The second is that the economic crisis could, in fact, translate into more public protests in Kazakhstan, especially as the weather gets warmer. Whatever the specific motivation, we see the initiative as an opportunity to engage and strengthen our ties with the MVD and promote adherence to Western standards in upholding public order. At post, the LegAtt office is taking the lead on coordinating a response to the MVD from Washington agencies. END COMMENT. ¶4. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER: The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) presents its compliments to the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan and has the honor to relay the following information. During recent years, the MVD of Kazakhstan and the U.S. Embassy have developed constructive relations on a wide range of issues in counteracting international crime. With the support of the Embassy, a number of joint projects have been implemented; the system of training police staff has been consolidated; and the material, technical and methodological bases of the MVD training centers have improved. As a part of the further improvement of police operations, MVD is currently studying foreign best practices in ensuring public order and security based on democratic principles. We are paying particular attention to the actions of police first and foremost in large cities during various mass social, political, cultural and sports events. We are interested in the methods of preventing various destructive incidents and mass disorder, the methods that would allow us to ensure a balance between observation of participants' civil rights and freedoms and the effectiveness of police operations. Unfortunately, recent events in a number of countries have shown that tactics used by police to localize and prevent disorders often prove to be ineffective. In some incidents, harsh physical methods and dangerous trauma-causing implements were used against initiators and participants of various events. In this regard, we believe that the most effective means and methods for prevention of mass disorders and so-called "soft" control of aggressive participants of such disorders have been developed by U.S. police. In this regard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs would appreciate the Embassy's assistance in obtaining the following information about the activities of U.S. police: ASTANA 00000559 002 OF 002 -- Legislative regulation of the use of force, firearms and police tools; standards of behavior; -- Tactics of peaceful settlement of conflicts, crowd management, conduct of negotiations and mediation; -- Methods and special equipment for finding, seizing and detaining organizers and active participants of mass disorders; -- Conditions and practical application, as well as technical specifications, of "soft" tools employed by police against aggressive participants of protest actions and mass disorders (including hand weapons, special bullets and charges, chemical substances, acoustic and electrical devices, etc.); -- Information about companies producing crowd management tools used by U.S. police for active and passive defense, as well as legislative and other conditions (possible restrictions) for their oversea deliveries. To discuss potential cooperation in this area, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is prepared to hold a working meeting with representatives of the U.S. Embassy at any time convenient to the American side. The Ministry of Internal Affairs avails itself of this occasion to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. Vice Minister O. Fedorov END TEXT OF LETTER HOAGLAND