Voice of Democracy Congress blasts Nazarbayev behavior — Senior members of the U.S. Congress have publicly called on the Bush administration "to encourage greater respect for human rights in Kazakhstan" and give "priroity attention" to investigating the links between repression by the Nazarbayev regime and the possible rise of Islamic extremism. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ), at a hearing before the House International Relations Committee on State Department's annual human rights report, said he was "quite concerned" about documented reports of "repression and corruption in Kazakhstan." He was particularly critical of the Nazarbayev regime's harassment of former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin and others in the democratic opposition. "I was especially disappointed to hear that former security assistants of Mr. Kazhegeldin are imprisoned under extremely harsh conditions," Rep. Smith said. He called on the State Department to "raise this case with the Nazarbayev regime." Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) asked Secretary of State Colin Powell to look into reports of "repression and corruption contributing to the spread of Islamic extremism" in Kazakhstan and elsewhere in Central Asia. "President Nazarbayev has virtually eliminated any semblance of an independent judiciary, and freedom of the press is essentially non-existent. As a result, there is no accountability for any of Nazarbayev's actions, and I am told that the people have lost hope. Unfortunately, that leaves the door wide open for extremists, and that is not only bad for the citizens of Kazakhstan, but it affects our own national security interests as well," she told Powell. The congresswoman called on Powell to give the matter "priority attention." The State Department will submit Powell's answers in writing shortly. Hostage for oil -- In exchange for a lucrative Kazakh oil deal with an Italian consortium may lie a secret "guarantee" by "some members of the Italian government" to seize the leader of Kazakhstan's democratic opposition and turn him over to the Nazarbayev regime, according to two prominent Italian parliamentarians. Senators Pedrizzi and Bevilacqua have officially requested the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice to investigate and "verify" reports of the prisoner-for-oil swap. Their request http://www.senato.it/bd/menubanchedati_pubbliche.htm says the alleged deal calls for arresting former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin if he shows up in Italy and turning him over the the Nazarbayev regime. Kazhegeldin's arrest and extradition, according to the senators, may be a key part of the deal permitting ENI to operate the consortium on the Kashagan petroleum extraction project. Kazhegeldin was previous detained on a Nazarbayev warrant at Fumincino Airport near Rome, the senators pointed out, "and then immediately released after the orchestration of hypothetical accusation against him was ascertained." If the current charges prove true, the senators are asking the ministers to intervene to protect Kazhegeldin and "denounce" the plotters. Italian Senate slams Nazarbayev -- Senators have accused Kazakhstan of failing to keep its promise to respect democracy and human rights when it joined Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 1992, and they have suggested Kazakhstan be expelled unless it promptly undertakes meaningful reforms. President Nazarbayev exercises "deceitful...control upon legislative and juridicial power" which cannot be changed without his consent, said the Italian senators. They noted that freedom of expression, the press, and assembly are restricted, sometimes violently, and most Kazakhs live "in extreme poverty" despite the country's vast oil wealth. Various international organizations have repeatedly denounced the absence of democracy and "enormous violations of human rights," the senators noted. They called on Kazakhstan to "run liberal elections which do not exclude any candidate" and "allow free and equal access to State media to independent candidates and parties and opposition." http://eurasia.org.ru/2001/hot_en/02_19_ItalianSenate_eng.htm What merit system? -- What good is nepotism if you can't take care of your relatives? That's no problem in Kazakhstan, where President forever Nursultan Nazarbayev's 30-year-old nephew, Kairat Satybaldy-uly, was just made vice president of state-run Kazakoil. According to published reports, Satybaldy is being groomed as a possible successor to Uncle Nursultan http://www.energyintel.com . Although he has no experience in the oil business, he's apparently been put in charge of financial operations. Two of Nazarbayev's sons-in-law already control major elements of the country's oil sector and Kazak industry as a whole. For the full stories, see the web citations above or contact us at News@kazakhstan21.org. The Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation promotes democracy and human rights in Kazakhstan through public affairs and educational programs in the United States and Europe. --- This material is distributed by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. |
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