Kazakhstan's Democratic Forces Forum |
Akezhan Kazhegeldin
came out in support of M. Ablyazov and G. Zhakiyanov
Ms. Rachel Denber Dear Ms. Denber: I am writing to you of my continuing concern about repression in my country. The recent arrests last month of former Energy Minister Mukhtar Ablyazov, whom the government has accused of corruption, and an arrest warrant issued against Galymzhan Zhakiyanov - who escaped detention by taking refuge in a building housing several European embassies and left last week after being promised he wouldn't be jailed. Both men are active in Kazakhstan's Democratic Choice, a new political movement, which I actively support, as do several former government officials who disagree with the policies of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Mr. Ablyazov, also is a founder of two opposition newspapers and an opposition television network called TAN. The government has shut down Mr. Ablyazov's newspapers, and an unidentified person blacked out TAN's broadcast in Almaty by shooting a cable that fed signals to its transmission tower. Nazarbayev, who has led the Central Asian country since the breakup of the Soviet Union, has shown little tolerance for dissent. His re-election in 1999, after my disqualification, was criticized by international monitors as being rife with fraud. The pattern always repeats itself. When confronted by legitimate criticism and political activism, the Nazarbayev regime responds with an "iron fist" and fabricated allegations of criminal activity. It is all too easy for the regime to manufacture "evidence," elicit false "testimony" and initiate "criminal proceedings." The authorities tend to intensify criminal investigation and approve detentions immediately after leaders of democratic parties and movements start to actively demand further political reforms and corruption investigations. I was brought to justice for the alleged abuses of office, tried in absentia by Kazakhstan Supreme Court and sentenced to ten years of prison as a result of biased and tendentious investigation and trial. Today, among those persecuted by Kazakh law enforcement agencies are Mukhtar Ablyazov and Galymzhan Zhakiyanov. At the same time, no investigations are carried out regarding those present and former high-ranking officials who remain loyal to the regime. This remains so, despite wide-spread disclosure of United States and Swiss investigations involving corrupt payments to President Nazarbayev and his high ranking associates, as well as the recent admission that more than $1 billion had been transferred to off-shore bank accounts in Mr. Nazarbayev's name. While I would agree that any person should be made accountable for their actions and sustain punishment given his/her guilt is proven. However, it should not be connected with the person's political activities, including opposition activities, and an objective investigation and fair trial should guarantee his/her rights. I am convinced that criminal cases against Mr. Ablyazov and Mr. Zhakiyanov are politically motivated. The selective nature of these criminal prosecutions together with the unprecedented speed, efficiency and vigor that accompany the investigations by Kazakh law enforcement agencies and special services confirm this conclusion. I do not believe in the objective nature of the investigation, or fair and just judicial system in Kazakhstan, which is completely controlled by the executive branch. Neither Mr. Ablyazov nor Mr. Zhakiyanov can expect a fair trial in Kazakhstan under current circumstances. As you know, despite Kazakhstan's promise to place Mr. Zhakiyanov under house arrest in Almaty, pending the "investigation", he has now been moved to detention in Pavlodar, more than 1000 kilometers away from his home. This relocation was obviously intended to make more difficult any international monitoring of the "investigation". Regardless of the logistical difficulties that might be encountered, I urge you and other respected International human rights organizations and foreign governments to carefully and consistently monitor the situation presently unfolding. The Nazarbayev regime is exploiting the unrest in Afghanistan and the Middle East to distract its own increasing repression and crackdown on dissent and legitimate criticism. For the sake of democracy and stability in my country I firmly hope that your organization will continue its focus and activities in Kazakhstan. Sincerely, April 11, 2002 |
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