(U) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON KAZAKHSTAN ARRESTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 102964

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2034
TAGS: PINR ECON EFIN ENRG PGOV KZ
SUBJECT: (U) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON KAZAKHSTAN ARRESTS
(C-RE9-01910)

REF: A. ASTANA 000677

B. ASTANA 000680

C. ASTANA 000535

D. ASTANA 001439

E. ASTANA 001255

F. ASTANA 000953

Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATED REFTELS'
COVERAGE OF THE ARRESTS OF KAZAKHSTANI GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
ON CORRUPTION CHARGES AND RECENT CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT THE
SYSTEMIC NATURE OF CORRUPTION. THE INSIGHTS ON THE ENDEMIC
LEVEL OF CORRUPTION, AND THE EPIDEMIC OF RECENT ARRESTS OF
MUKHTAR DZHAKISHEV, NURLAN ISKAKOV, SERIK BURKITBAYEV,
ZHAKSYBEK KULEKEYEV, AND MUKTAR ABLYAZOV, WERE OF SIGNIFICANT
VALUE. WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY THE NAMES AND SPECIFIC DETAILS
REGARDING THE ARRESTS AND CHARGES OF ANY ADDITIONAL
INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS THOSE PREVIOUSLY LISTED, AS TIME AND
RESOURCES PERMIT.


A. (C) DOES THIS RECENT CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT GOVERNMENT
CORRUPTION HAVE A FOCUS SOLELY ON GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION
OFFICIALS? HOW ARE THOSE WHO ARE ARRESTED BEING SELECTED?


B. (C) WHAT INDICATIONS, IF ANY, ARE THERE THAT THIS
CAMPAIGN IS A KAZAKHSTANI COMMITTEE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
(KNB) POWERGRAB? ARE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BESIDES THE KNB
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ARRESTS OR DOES IT APPEAR THAT KNB IS
ASSERTING ITS AUTHORITY?


C. (C) WHAT INDICATIONS EXIST THAT THESE ARRESTS ARE AN
EFFORT TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR A CHOSEN SUCCESSOR TO NAZARBAYEV?


D. (C) PLEASE PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING
AFFILIATIONS, ARRESTS, AND CHARGES ON THE FOLLOWING
INDIVIDUALS, AS TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW:

-KAZHIMURAT MAYERMANOV, DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER
-YURIY TLEUMURATOV, CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCIAL CONTROL
COMMITTEE AT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
-VIKTOR KHRAPUNOV, MINISTER OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
-NURMAN BAYANOV, DEPUTY HEAD OF THE STATISTICS AGENCY
-KHAKIMZHAN ZHAMBURBAYEV, KAZAKH TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
MINISTRY'S COMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORT CONTROL
-YERDEN QAZHYBEK, FORMER HEAD OF THE LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT OF
THE CULTURE AND INFORMATION MINISTRY
-SULTAN NOGAYEV, HEAD OF THE NORTH KAZAKHSTAN DEPT. OF THE
FINANCIAL POLICE
-ASKAR NURMAGAMBETOV, HEAD OF THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT OF
THE MAYOR OF ASTANA'S OFFICE
TEMIRLAN KARIBEKOV, HEAD OF THE ASTANA HEALTHCARE DEPARTMENT


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-01910 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON