 Kazakhstan
In memory of patriot and champion of justice
With bitterness and exasperation, the Kazakh opposition foreign bureau
has learnt about the villainous killing of Zamanbek Nurkadilov, a bright and strong man,
ardent politician and fearless citizen.
Each revolution has its martyrs who died for the freedom and justice.
When democracy have the upper hand in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh nation will learn the name of
the villain who shot Zamanbek Nurkadilov in the heart and the head. However, the
responsibility for the murder rests with President Nazarbayev and his henchmen. No doubt,
Zamanbek Nurkadilov was killed for his actions against Nursultan Nazarbayev and his regime
of government corruption.
Zamanbek Nurkadilov was our associate and friend. Like no other
politician, he realized the importance of working abroad, the need to explain to western
politicians and journalists what is actually taking place behind the façade of "the
Nazarbayev democracy."
In his vehement manner, he tried to convince foreign ministry officials
in European states that they should never trade the ideals of freedom for barrels of
Caspian oil. "Don't allow to pay for oil with the blood and tears of the people, true
owners of the oil!” Foreign politicians and public figures, whom he met and kept in
touch with, recall today this bitter statement of his that sounded almost like a reproach.
Journalists whom he told about the iniquity and corruption in Kazakhstan recall these
bitter words today too. The Kazakh oil has been paid for by his hot blood too.
Zamanbek Nurkadilov could not watch silently any injustice. He created,
registered, and funded an international commission to fight corruption in Kazakhstan. He
received information from the investigative authorities and journalists working on the
Kazakhgate case and similar scandals involving Nursultan Nazarbayev and his entourage.
British, Italian, and US authors are grateful to him for his assistance in writing their
books. Unfortunately, he will be unable to leaf through those books or put them on a shelf
in his study.
With all his attention to the West and international organizations,
Zamanbek Nurkadilov never doubted that it will be the Kazakh people who will play the
decisive role in uprooting the corrupt dictatorship. He was confident that people would
come out in the streets in the two Kazakh capitals, Almaty and Astana, and would make
Nursultan Nazarbayev step down. Zamanbek Nurkadilov prepared to lead the anti-Nazarbayev
rallies. He knew that people would not only follow him into the streets, they would also
storm the palaces where those who rob the national riches rule.
Zamanbek Nurkadilov had the gift of the gab, he was the best Kazakh
orator, a true national tribune. His philippics injured the regime harder than any weapon.
He called a thief a thief, oligarchs in his entourage – fence dealers in stolen goods,
and the president's entourage – the gang. During a celebration in Almaty, he cut short
Nazarbayev who was going to address the audience with a regular speech of his. This made
the president and his henchmen scuttle and leave the square to the winner.
Zamanbek Nurkadilov personally knew president Nazarbayev. Like no other
man, he knew what was deep in the heart of the hangdog man of no character governed lately
by the fear of Kazakhgate instead of reason. Zamanbek Nurkadilov once said that the
president asked him for advice what to do. Nurkadilov felt sorry for his fellow countryman
and coeval, but the only thing he could have recommended Nazarbayev was to voluntary
resign and hope for the big heart of his people.
However, after details of Nursultan Nazarbayev's cooperation with the
CIA and other US special services were made public, Zamanbek Nurkadilov backed the idea to
impeach Nursultan Nazarbayev and bring him to justice for high treason. He was planning to
launch an impeachment campaign right after the December 4 election and firmly believed
that the time of generosity had gone. Traitors and spies have to answer for the treason.
In the official reports about the death of Zamanbek Nurkadilov, the
authorities underline that he lived in a house surrounded by a high fence equipped with
video cameras. However, it was the special services who followed every move, every word of
the Nazarbayev's foe and did it better than any cameras. We know from Zamanbek Nurkadilov,
that his house was under surveillance of the National Security Committee agents, all his
conversations were tapped, and the taps were everywhere, even in the garden. All his
visitors were recorded on videotape and put under surveillance. The person who killed
Zamanbek Nurkadilov was almost for sure a person linked to the special services.
Zamanbek Nurkadilov once personally reminded Nazarbayev of the fate of
Nicolae Ceausescu and other dictators. The Kazakh opposition foreign bureau, like the
entire Kazakh nation and the Kazakhstan's friends and partners around the world are
positive that the culprits will have to pay for the murder of Zamanbek Nurkadilov as well
as those who told them to kill him.
Not long ago, Zamanbek Nurkadilov sent a long letter to the foreign
bureau. He shared his ideas and plans for the future in it. Very much to our regret, this
passionate document has become the last one he ever wrote, a true political will. We will
shortly publish this document so that every Kazakh citizen knows that all thoughts and
solicitudes of Zamanbek Nurkadilov were with his native land and his people.
Zamanbek Nurkadilov's name will remain in Kazakhstan's modern history.
In the nearest future, it will also bring people to uprise against the corrupt regime of
those who have betrayed Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh opposition foreign bureau will seek to set up an
international commission to investigate the killing of Zamanbek Nurkadilov. We call on all
patriotic forces of Kazakhstan to back the creation and operation of this commission.
The monument to Zamanbek Nurkadilov should become a Kazakhstan free
from the brigandish power of thieves.
KAZAKH OPPOSITION FOREIGN BUREAU
Geneva, 14 November 2005
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