Voice of Democracy
Published by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation · Washington, D.C. ·Jan. 15, 2004

BUSH TO NAZERBAYEV: UNPACK -- President Bush signed a proclamation this week that could bar Kazakh dictator, members of his family and close associates from entering the United States. The presidential order suspends entry by "persons engaged in or benefiting from corruption," and Nazarbayev is embroiled in a major federal corruption case by the FBI, the Department of Justice and a federal grand jury. His long-time advisor, James Giffen, is awaiting trial in New York on charges of funneling $60 million in payoffs to Nazarbayev. That is part of the larger Kazakhgate scandal being investigated by U.S., Swiss, Belgian and Canadian authorities for corruption, bribery, money laundering, other offenses, and reportedly reaches to the top of the Kazakh government and first family. Nazarbayev reportedly has personally -- and unsuccessfully -- lobbied in the Oval Office to drop the investigation of himself in exchange for ratting on others. The Presidential order bars entry of "persons who have committed, participated in, or are beneficiaries of corruption in the performance of public functions, U.S. foreign assistance goals, the security of the United States against transnational crime and terrorism, or the stability of democratic institutions and nations." http://www.whitehouse.gov/

DIFFERENT CELL, SAME RESTRICTIONS -- Sergei Duvanov, the imprisoned independent journalist who was charged with statutory rape after publishing exposes about corruption at top Kazakh government levels, has been transferred to a low security facility, reports the weekly "Respublika Assandi Times," but that may be only temporary. His case has gotten international attention because of widespread belief that it was politically motivated. Duvanov reportedly told recent visitors there are tight restrictions on whom he may meet although normally in such facilities inmates are permitted unlimited visits by friends and relatives. He expects authorities to return him to the high security prison because he has written 36 articles while in prison, and while none have been printed some have appeared on the Internet. He intends to continue writing, if he can get writing materials. http://www.rferl.org/bd/ka/

YOUTHFUL DRINKING PROBLEM -- Juvenile alcoholism is "rapidly increasing" in Kazakhstan, despite government efforts to discourage the nation's drinking habit, according to a new report by the country's center for promoting healthier lifestyles. There has been more than a twenty-fold increase in youthful drinking just since 1999, and those numbers represent only a fraction of the true problem because most cases go unreported, according to Raisa Kolokina, the anti-alcohol program coordinator. For most children, drinking begins at home in an environment that says its not a big deal, she reports. Juvenile alcoholism is growing more rapidly than among adults. The national drinking law age is 18, but the report says no one has been prosecuted for selling alcohol to underage minors. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=38237&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=Kz/

IF YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING NICE, SHUT UP OR GO TO JAIL -- That's the message from the Kazakh dictator to his country's media. Reports that are deemed negative must be stopped by law, he declared. There should be zero tolerance for reporting deemed "brainwashing people to believe matters are so bad" in Kazakhstan, he told an interviewer from Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, as reported by the BBC. In a curious dance of contradictions and contortions, Nazarbayev told reporters "censorship is banned by the constitution" but "freedom of the media" must be limited by law. He said it is "indisputable" that "There is freedom of speech in Kazakhstan," although journalists in his jails and hospitals or put out of business by his government would certainly dispute that if they could. He said, "The mass media must be free and independent of anybody," although his family dominates the Kazakh media, driving the competition out of business. All published opinions must be "based on facts," but the government will decide on accuracy and the consequences. He correctly observed that " one side says everything it wants, the other side does not have an opportunity to express its opinion," and that constitutes "a flagrant violation of democracy and freedom of speech." Incredibly, Nazarbayev contends the injured party is not the opposition or the public but his own autocratic government, which has come under scathing international criticism for its repression of the free media. Bottom line: truth is what the dictator declares it is. Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, http://news.bbc.co.uk/

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.

To unsubscribe from this list, or change the email address where you receive messages, please go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?member_id=323446&user_secret=e7e6c3c0