The Nazarbayev regime abuses its Interpol membership

Statement of the International Eurasian Institute for Economic and Political Research

In June 2002 Interpol’s Secretariat General, on the basis of Article 3 of Interpol's Constitution, which prohibits the organization from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character, revoked the Red Notice issued at the request of the Kazakhstan regime against former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin. The Secretary General’s decision followed an objective review of extensive materials provided by the legal representatives of Mr. Kazhegeldin and the government of Kazakhstan

The Secretary General is effectively the Organization’s chief full-time official. According the constitution, the Secretary General, and his staff are chosen from among persons highly competent in police and legal matters and are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day work of international police co-operation, and the implementation of the decisions of the General Assembly and Executive Committee.

The Secretary General’s well reasoned and informed decision was affirmed by the Executive Committee which, in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution, has 13 members comprising the President of the organization, 3 Vice-Presidents and 9 delegates. At the time of the vote the Executive Committee consisted of representatives from Spain, Canada, Korea, Sudan, China, Germany, Egypt, Mexico, El Salvador, France, and Latvia.

Thereafter the Kazakhstan regime requested Interpol General Assembly to reverse the Executive Committee's and General Secretariat's decision at its session in Yaounde, Cameroon. On October 23, 2002, the General Assembly, composed of delegates appointed by the governments of Member States voted, by a close political vote of 46-38 majority with 23 abstentions, to reinstate the Red Notice. This action, brought about by the corrupt Kazakh regime is a backward step for the Organization, reminiscent the actions of Hitler’s Nazi government which in the 1930's regularly used Interpol and bilateral law enforcement accords to strike against Jews and other political opponents of the fascist regime.

Pursuant to Article 9 of the Interpol Constitution, Member States are not required to act, by provisionally apprehending or otherwise detaining a subject of any Red Notice that is issued at the request of another participating country. In fact, prior to the Secretary General’s determination, Mr. Kazhegeldin freely traveled to countries in Europe, America and Asia which respect universal human rights.

We are certain that any country that objectively evaluates the facts and circumstances involving the issuance of Red Notices against Akezhan Kazhegeldin by the Kazakhstan regime will conclude that the request is political in character and designed to interfere with basic human and democratic rights of all persons.

We are also convinced by discussions that we have already had that Mr. Kazhegeldin will continue to freely travel to engage in activities to promote political, economic and democratic reforms in Kazakhstan in those civilized countries in the world which subscribe to basic human right and democratic values.

November 1, 2002