Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA718
2009-04-27 10:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: CHANGES TO PROTECTION LAW WILL BENEFIT

Tags:  PGOV PHUM SOCI SNAR KCRM KTIP KZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9697
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK
RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV
RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #0718 1171048
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271048Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5264
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 1538
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0915
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1618
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0602
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1100
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1014
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 1451
UNCLAS ASTANA 000718 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/AAE, G/TIP, SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI SNAR KCRM KTIP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CHANGES TO PROTECTION LAW WILL BENEFIT
VICTIMS OF TIP AND OTHER CRIMES

UNCLAS ASTANA 000718

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/AAE, G/TIP, SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI SNAR KCRM KTIP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CHANGES TO PROTECTION LAW WILL BENEFIT
VICTIMS OF TIP AND OTHER CRIMES


1. SUMMARY: Changes to Kazakhstan's witness protection law will
enable the government to more quickly provide a full range of
services to crime victims during lengthy, complex investigations.
These changes will benefit victims of trafficking-in-persons and
other serious transnational crimes. END SUMMARY.


2. On April 7, President Nazarbayev signed amendments to the Law on
State Protection of Participants in Criminal Proceedings. This law
provides the legal basis for the government to provide a full range
of assistance to crime victims and witnesses, including pre-trial
housing, security, relocation, assistance finding new employment,
and, in extraordinary cases, assistance in changing one's physical
appearance.


3. The new amendments extend the time frame during which government
assistance and protection can be provided. Previously, assistance
could only be provided after the initiation of a criminal case. The
amendments allow the government to provide assistance at all stages
of the criminal process from the moment a crime is reported through
the investigation and trial phases. In complex crimes, such as
human trafficking, the success of a prosecution depends greatly on
the testimony of victims and the lack of protection and assistance
during the initial stages created unnecessary obstacles to
successful investigations. Previously almost all victims had to be
transferred to NGOs for assistance until a criminal case was
initiated and government funding could kick in.


4. Amendments were also made to the Criminal Code, the Criminal
Procedural Code, and the Law on Operational Investigative Activities
in order to provide protection to convicts, prisoners, and those
acquitted or whose sentences were dismissed.

HOAGLAND