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