Political Discord Escalating in Kazakhstan

Political discord is escalating in Kazakhstan. Authorities have detained a prominent opposition leader on charges of financial improprieties. The detention was accompanied by court orders suspending publication of two opposition-oriented newspapers for two months. Critics of President Nursulatan Nazarbayev's administration say they intend to stage a mass rally in response to the government's action.

Muhtar Ablyazov, one of the leaders of the new opposition movement Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK), was taken into financial police custody March 28. About 100 people picketed the State Financial Police Agency on March 28 in protest of the arrest. Meanwhile, DCK leaders announced their intention to hold a larger protest on Ablyazov's behalf on March 30 in Almaty. They assert the arrest was politically motivated and designed to intimidate Nazarbayev's critics.

"We reserve the right to demonstrate our protest against extremist actions by the Government by any means guaranteed by Constitution of Kazakhstan," said Galimzhan Zhakiyanov, a member of the DCK's leadership council.

Ablyazov -- who headed the national power company KEGOC from 1997-98, and later served as energy minister – stands accused of being "directly involved" in the misappropriation of government resources for personal gain, according to a financial police statement. He also is accused of embezzling about $1.65 million in funds from KEGOC. Authorities justified the detention by saying there was a risk that Ablyazov, who currently heads a major Kazakhstani bank, could flee the country if he remained at large while the investigation continued.

Since the formation of the DCK in November 2001, the financial police have pressed investigations against opposition leaders' business interests. In particular, a network of companies under Ablyazov's control, known as Astana-Holding, has faced scrutiny from authorities.

Shortly before Ablyazov's arrest, Kazakhstani courts ordered the immediate suspensions of two newspapers with ties to the political opposition. Both publications – Delovoye Obozreniye Respublika and Vremya Po – were found in violation of technicalities concerning Kazakhstan's media legislation. However, journalists maintain that the court orders effectively served as government retaliation for the publication of articles concerning alleged corrupt government dealings with oil and gas resources. [For background see Eurasianet's Human Rights archive]. Journalists at Delovoye Obozreniye Respublika announced that they had filed a counter-suit, and until that case was resolved, they intended to keep publishing.

In general, Nazarbayev's opponents are staking out a defiant position. For example, DCK leaders in mid March dispatched an appeal to the European parliament, complaining about government pressure on opposition media. The letter noted that Nazarbayev, during a December 2001 visit to the United States, signed a joint statement with US President George W. Bush that committed Kazakhstan to the strengthening of democratic institutions and an independent media. "These words