Voice of Democracy
Published by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation · Washington, D.C. ·Jan. 8, 2004

POWELL SENDS BLUNT WARNING -- OSCE may stand for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to most people, but for Kazakh dictator Nursultan Nazarbayev it means Only Serious Countries Eligible. The Bush Administration sent Nazarbayev a blunt warning: clean up your human rights record or forget about becoming the first former Soviet republic to chair OSCE. Secretary of State Colin Powell described Kazakhstan's human rights record as "poor" and said Washington expects dramatic changes in that category, reports the Washington Times. "It is clear that any state wishing to assume the (OSCE) chairmanship must demonstrate that it can conduct free and fair elections for its national leadership," Powell said. He also told Nazarbayev that the United States wants to see actions to demonstrate "your public commitment to accelerate the building of democracy, the rule of law and civil society in Kazakhstan and to cooperate more closely with the OSCE." Powell specifically called for the release of two political prisoners who "have been severely punished": independent journalist Sergei Duvanov and Galzymzhan Zhakianov, former government of Pavlodar. Duvanov was convicted on controversial rape charge that international observers branded false and politically motivated; Zhakianov was charged with corruption. The regime's severe repression of the media, as symbolized by the Duvanov case, continues despite Nazarbayev's promise to President Bush, as Powell reminded the dictator, "to promote freedom and pluralism in Kazakhstan's media environment, including the right of the media to criticize the country's elected leaders." http://www.washtimes.com/world/embassy.htm

TRUTH CAN BE INTOXICATING -- President Nazarbayev has signed a new law that treats alcoholic beverages like honest journalism: both are banned from the nation's mass media. Under legislation that took effect this week, advertising of liquor and alcohol is prohibited in the mass media, the state press service announced. So is advertising of infant milks and goods and service not certified by the government. Tobacco ads are permitted only in print media but not on the first or last pages. The new restrictions are part of a continuing campaign to tighten restrictions on all media by a regime which has come under extensive international criticism for its repression of the independent news media. http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2003/12/23/51905.html

RENT-A-NAVY -- Nursultan Nazarbayev is shopping for a navy. He's looking to Russia for ships and maintenance as well as instructions on how to operate the equipment and the navy, says his defense minister, Mukhtar Altynbayev. Personnel have been sent to Russia for training, he said, and the United States and Turkey also have been asked to provide ships; his goal is 15-20 vessels. The Kazakh Navy, which has no ships and exists only in a decree handed down by the dictator last week, will be stationed in the town of Aktau (formerly Shevchenko) on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2003/12/12/51785.html

TIGHTENING CONTROLS ON INFORMATION -- Foreign investors will no longer be able to own a controlling share in Kazakhstan's telecommunications companies, declared the deputy chair of the state agency on computerization and communication. The new rule goes into effect next year, and it is unclear what that means for foreign companies that currently hold more than the 49% share permitted under the new rules. RBC News reports a number of other restrictions also will be placed on foreign investors, under the rubric of national security and protecting local companies. Some observers see the rules as part of a broader information control effort by the regime, which includes tight restrictions on radio and television broadcasting, news publication and the Internet. http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20031201192357.shtml

For the full stories, see the web citations above or contact us at News@Kazakhstan21.org or see VOD Archives [http://iicas.org/english/enlibrary/libr_16_03_01kp.htm]. 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.

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