McCain-Endorsed Congressional Resolution Accuses Central Asian Governments of Rights Abuses

The joint resolution, entered into the Congressional Record by Arizona Republican John McCain on October 17, singles out Kazakhstan, calling on President Nursultan Nazarbayev's government "to create a political climate free of intimidation and harassment." It also says the US government should pressure Almaty to cooperate with an ongoing Justice Department investigation that reportedly involves illicit payments to Swiss bank accounts. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archives].

The Senate is currently in recess to allow legislators time to campaign ahead of the upcoming elections in early November. Experts say the Senate will take up the resolution sometime after November 12, when congress is scheduled to reconvene. The US House of Representatives is expected to consider a corresponding resolution at about the same time. The McCain measure will likely be referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before it moves to the full Senate. Along the way, the text may be subject to negotiation and amendment.

The resolution – known as S.J. Res. 50 – paints a dire picture of human and political rights in all five Central Asian states – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The measure also raises doubts about the future effectiveness of US aid to the region. "Increased levels of United States assistance to the governments of the Central Asian nations, made possible by their cooperation in the war in Afghanistan, can be sustained only if there is substantial and continuing progress" in accelerating "democratic reforms" and in fulfilling "human rights obligations," the resolution says.

All five Central Asian states are cited for curtailing essential rights, including freedom of speech and religious expression. [For additional information see the EurasiaNet Human Rights archive]. The resolution has especially harsh words for Turkmenistan, describing the country as "a Soviet-style, one-party state centered around the glorification of its president [Saparmurat Niyazov]." The measure calls attention to religious persecution in both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. [For background see the EurasiaNet Human Rights archive].

A continuation of such rights abuses poses a threat to US national security interests, the resolution warns. "By continuing to suppress human rights and to deny citizens peaceful democratic means of expressing their convictions, the nations of Central Asia risk fueling popular support for violent and extremist movements, thus undermining the goals of the war on terrorism."

The resolution specifies several ways for Central Asian governments to improve rights conditions, including "releasing from prison all those jailed for peaceful political activism, or non-violent expression of their political or religious beliefs," and "permitting the free and unfettered functioning of independent media outlets." Central Asian governments can additionally improve the region's rights climate by "making publicly available documentation of their revenues and punishing those engaged in official corruption," the draft states.

Kazakhstan is targeted as a particular source of concern about corruption. According to media reports, the Justice Department investigation referred to in the resolution involves possible bribes paid to Kazakhstani government officials by oil companies. The case, known in Almaty as "Kazakhgate," has emerged as a key element of an ongoing political struggle between President Nazarbayev and his political opponents. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archives]. The Senate draft goes on to call on Kazakhstan to release political prisoners and permit the return of political exiles, "most notably Akezhan Kazhegeldin." [For additional information see the EurasiaNet Business and Economics archive].

The US government – specifically the president, along with the secretaries of state and defense – should "continue to raise [concerns about rights violations] at the highest levels