Voice of Democracy
Published by Kazakhstan 21st Century Foundation · Washington, D.C. Apr. 25, 2003

THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF MY LAWYERS GO I -- With one of his closest advisors and accused bag man, James Giffen, under indictment in New York for money laundering, bribery, tax evasion and other criminal charges, and himself under investigation on corruption charges by Swiss and American authorities, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has called for making criminal laws more humane. It was right there in his state of the nation address to a joint session of the country's parliament. D'ya think he expects something? http://www.rferl.org/bd/ka/

BAGHDAD BOB MEETS PINOCCHIO-- It was a classic case of "That may be what I said, but it's not what I meant." President Nazarbayev was sounding a lot like Baghdad Bob, Saddam Hussein's notorious spokesman who confidently reported stunning Iraqi military victories, even as coalition forces captured his country. The scandal tainted Kazakh dictator's annual address was missing a critical ingredient -- honesty. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, he called for strong and responsible political parties, even though he has pushed through new laws making Kazakhstan virtually a one-party state; he said the election process needs to be more transparent, ignoring widespread international charges that he rigged his own last election; he said conditions are ripe for a thriving, independent media even though his thugs have vandalized, firebombed, harassed, taxed and prosecuted the independent media virtuallyout of business; he said censorship is nonexistent while knowing that journalists are in Kazakh jails, hospitals and cemeteries as a result of his own violent repression of the media. If he had a new truth-in-labeling law, this State of the Nation address would have to be renamed the Tour of Fantasyland. http://www.rferl.org/bd/ka/

AND THE BEAT-ING GOES ON -- After 13 opposition journalists and four members of Journalists in Adversity accused the Kazakh leadership of systematically suppressing freedom of the press, a number of prominent western journalists decided to boycott the Eurasian Media Forum being held in Almaty this week. The conference was organized by the daughter of the Kazakh dictator as part of a larger effort to counter international criticism of his regime's severe anti-media reputation. Meanwhile, the top editor of the independent newspaper Rabat, Maksim Erokhin , was beaten by unknown assailants in what has become a common practice for the government expressing displeasure with media coverage. Similar attacks on opposition journalists have occurred around the country, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. In addition, another reporter whose dispatches have met with official displeasure, is being accused of trying to avoid military service. Media groups have called the case another example of government harassment of journalists. The OSCE, the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress have systematically condemned the Nazarbayev regime's assaults on the media. http://www.forumkz.org, http://www.rferl.org/bd/ka/

SETTING RECORDS -- Kazakhgate is the largest foreign bribery investigation since the U.S. began prosecuting such cases under the 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Wall Street Journal reported. U.S. authorities are looking into the role of Exxon Mobil Corp. as part of a scheme to funnel $78 million in payments from U.S. and European oil companies to Swiss bank accounts of President Nazarbayev and others close to him. A retired top Mobil Oil executive and a close Nazarbayev advisor already have been indicted in New York. The little-used law was triggered by a tip from Swiss bank authorities about suspicious transactions involving Kazakh higher-ups. http://public.wsj.com/home.html

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.