From: Vladic Ravich (vravich@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Nov 30 2004 - 12:07:22 EST
KAZAKH BLAST INVESTIGATION FOCUSES ON VANDALISM
Moldiyar Orazaliev, the head of the Almaty police department, said on 29
November that police are focusing on vandalism as the possible reason
for two explosions at the ruling Otan party's headquarters in Almaty on
28 November, Khabar TV reported. The blasts caused light damage to the
building that houses Otan's headquarters and slightly injured one
passerby (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 29 November 2004). President Nursultan
Nazarbaev has taken personal control of the investigation, which
Interior Minister Zautbek Turisbekov is heading, Interfax-Kazakhstan
reported. The police expect to report their preliminary findings in 10
days. Orazaliev said the National Security Committee is also examining
several other theories for the blasts, "Kazakhstan Today" reported.
Members of Otan's political council downplayed the possibility of
vandalism and suggested that the explosions were an attempt to
destabilize the country, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported on 29 November.
Bulat Abilov, co-chairman of the opposition party Ak Zhol, condemned the
attack and said, "I believe democratic [opposition] forces have nothing
to do with this," Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. DK
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