KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, APRIL 27 - MAY 8

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000853 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ALMATY NOTES, APRIL 27 - MAY 8 ¶1. The "Almaty Notes" series is intended to maintain focus on developments in civil society, the media, and the opposition in Kazakhstan's "southern capital" following the move of the Embassy to Astana. AZAT'S ABILOV -- THE CHOSEN ONE? ¶2. Rumors are swirling around Azat party leader Bulat Abilov and his opposition "credentials." In a recent interview, President Nazarbayev's advisor Yermukhamed Yertysbayev said that he could see Abilov as the leader of a united opposition. Some people took these words as his personal opinion, but others took it as "spilling the beans." Although Yertysbayev has been known to speak off the cuff, it is understood that he would never say anything that runs completely counter to the views at the Presidential Administration. Moreover, the President's advisor must be aware of the skeptical attitude of other opposition leaders toward Abilov's ambitions to lead a united opposition. During a recent public appearance, Abilov told the audience that he is ready "to lead the opposition and be a candidate for president." (NOTE: Abilov's self-nomination did not receive much public support from other opposition parties, however, and in private conversations, opposition leaders dismissed Abilov's ambitions; National Social Democratic Party (OSDP) deputy head Amirzhan Kosanov joked that he too would not mind being president. END NOTE.) Political analyst Andrey Chebotaryev told opposition paper "Respublika" that Yertysbayev's words could just be his personal opinion, or he could be intentionally floating this idea to provoke a split within the opposition. And according to some rumors, the Azat party is supported by Bulat Utemuratov, a close Nazarbayev confidante and former head of the management side of the Presidential Administration. If one adds in the opinion of some experts about the President's plans to have a pocket opposition party in Parliament as a sparring partner for the ruling Nur Otan party, then Yertysbayev's slip of the tongue may turn out to be a prophesy. ALMATY ELECTION COMMISSIONS GET NEW MEMBERS ¶3. On April 29, deputies of the Almaty City Maslikhat (local legislature) selected members for territorial, district, and precinct election commissions. The term in office of members of the current election commissions is due to expire on June 1. The Maslikhat deputies elected more than 3,500 new members for 512 election commissions. Seven political parties and three public associations nominated their candidates. As a result of the voting, 512 members each were elected from the ruling Nur Otan Party and the People's Communist Party; 511 members each from the Auyl (Village), Adilet (Justice),Patriots, and Rukhaniyat (Spirituality) political parties; 34 members from the opposition Communist Party of Kazakhstan; 33 members from the Union of Afghan War Veterans; 68 members from the Zheltoksan-86 nationalist movement; and 376 members from the Ariptes Confederation of Almaty NGOs. Three major opposition parties -- Azat, OSDP, and the unregistered Alga party -- refrained from nominating any candidates. PROTESTS FROM RETIRED OFFICERS CONTINUE ¶4. On April 27, a group of retired officers from the BOMZh Union held a protest action in front of the Almaty Garrison Military Court to demand that the government fulfill its promises to provide them with free apartments. (NOTE: "BOMZh" is a Russian acronym which stands for "without a permanent place of residence" and is used to refer to homeless people. END NOTE.) The officers held placards with a picture of the Goddess of Justice dressed in military uniform and in a gas mask. "For several years we have been striving for apartments prescribed by the law," the leader of the Union Vyacheslav Olenchenko said in his comments to journalists. "Once we retired, it was like we did not any more exist for the Ministry (of Defense)," he complained. Some officers who received the apartments owed to them by the government joined the action to support their friends. After a while, the officers dispersed, promising to resort to more radical actions in case their claims were not satisfied. ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS -- DEMOLITION OUTPACES LEGALIZATION ¶5. The Almaty Land Commission continues its work analyzing ASTANA 00000853 002 OF 002 applications for legalizing ownership of land plots in Almaty's Alatau district. The Commission's preliminary plan to legalize 3,500 land plots has been disrupted somewhat by an ad-hoc group called the "People's Committee of Alatau District," which has been calling on district residents not to apply for legalization because it will allegedly do nothing to stop demolitions of illegally-built houses. Those who do choose to go forward with legalization have to confirm in writing that they began building on their land plots illegally and are then given the opportunity to lease the land. ¶6. Meanwhile, district authorities demolished about 20 illegally-built houses in Alatau on May 5. About 90 residents of the affected microdistrict filed a complaint with the Almaty Procurator General's Office (PGO),asking to bring to account the officials and police officers involved. According to the complaint, the demolition was carried out without advance notification and without producing court rulings to this effect. Almaty Deputy Akim Maulen Mukashev defended the demolition campaign, alleging that the demolished houses were built only "two or three weeks before." While city administration had promised to legalize 3,500 houses, maintained Mukhashev, new settlements are continuing to appear at the site. "We cannot endlessly continue with legalization. Those who have been registered will be legalized, but the rest will be demolished," said Mukashev. MILAS