Voice of Democracy
Published by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation · Washington, D.C. ·Sept. 25, 2002

KAZAKH NUKE MATERIALS LOOSE -- The Kazakh copper monopoly, Kazakhmys, may be illegally producing strategic materials that can be used to make nuclear weapons, according to a member of the Russian State Duma. Viktor Ilyukhin, who sits on the Duma's security committee, told Interfax that Kazakhmys is engaged in the unauthorized production of osmium-187, samples of which were found in the possession of couriers apprehended in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Volgograd. He said it could be proven that the osmium-187 originated in Kazakhstan. http://www.rferl.org/bd/ka/

PRESIDENT FOR LIFE? ­ President Nazarbayev has apparently changed his mind and now says he may run for another 7-year term in 2007. In June 2000 he said he had no intention of being president for life. That was after he held a rigged election to give himself a third term that was denounced as invalid by the OSCE and the United States, which refused to recognize it. That 1999 election victor, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was made possible by excluding "his most serious challenger, former Premier Akezhan Kazhegeldin." Independent observers say Kazhegeldin is the only viable opposition candidate and if allowed to compete in a free and fair election would probably beat Nazarbayev. http://www.rferl.org/bd/ka/

GULLIBLE'S TRAVELS ­ Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana told the Kazakh dictator that meeting him was a source of "unforgettable happiness," according to a letter released by Nazarbayev's office. Landrieu, who did not describe the cause of her ecstasy, wrote that she hopes to visit Kazakhstan next year. Unlike Pentagon officials who are privately disappointed that Nazarbayev has limited Kazakh support in the war against terror to emergency landing rights at one airport, an effusive Landrieu feels "more secure and safe" knowing our planes "can count on a reliable harbor in Kazakhstan." http://www.kazpravda.Kz/

AND HE SAID IT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE ­ President Nazarbayev, who has thrown journalists in jail for offending him and his relatives, and who has been widely condemned for sending his thugs to beat up reporters and vandalize their homes and offices, said on state television (monitored by the BBC) that such behavior "was a disgrace, a violation of the law." He added, "Unfortunately, such things happen in life." He professed ignorance of the savage beating given prominent opposition journalist Sergei Duvanov, explaining, "I was not in the country at that time." Nazarbayev said he "instructed" the internal affairs minister to investigate. That statement was reminiscent of a famous line from Casablanca, "Round up the usual suspects." The thin-skinned dictator suggested that charges of attacks on journalists are often "exaggerated" and more frequently common criminal acts unrelated to the victims' profession. He even suggested that incidents were "provocations" by "the so-called opposition" to embarrass him. http://news.bbc.co.uk/

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.