VZCZCXRO9664
PP RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #1661/01 1301137
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101137Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ALMATY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5236
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0199
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0332
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2043
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1569

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ALMATY 001661 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE), INL (M. MCCOWAN) AND 
G/TIP (M. HALL) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM KDEM PGOV PREL SMIG SNAR KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS ASKS FOR 
HELP AGAINST NARCOTICS AND TRAFFICKING 
 
REF: ASTANA 33 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Minister of Internal Affairs (MVD) 
Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov told Assistant Secretary Boucher, 
National Security Council Senior Director Elisabeth Millard, 
and Ambassador Ordway that Kazakhstan wants to expand 
cooperation in counter-narcotics, efforts to combat 
trafficking in persons, security cooperation, and other 
specific ongoing law enforcement and investigative issues. 
Drug trafficking is growing "geometrically," and Kazakhstan 
wants training, information, and "new methods" to deal with 
the problem.  End summary. 
 
------------------------------------ 
COOPERATION AND EXPANSION OF EFFORTS 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) Minister Mukhamedzhanov opened the May 5 meeting by 
thanking A/S Boucher for the United States' assistance and 
cooperation in helping Kazakhstan to strengthen its police 
force and supporting law enforcement investigations.  He 
praised the good working relationship between our two 
nations. He stressed his concern about the rapidly growing 
problems of drug trafficking and trafficking in persons, and 
asked "what can we do about drugs from Afghanistan?"  A/S 
Boucher echoed Mukhamedzhanov's satisfaction with the 
current working relationship and expressed a desire to 
expand that relationship to further counter drug trafficking 
and trafficking in persons (TIP). A/S Boucher highlighted 
the fact that the United States spent $600 million on 
counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan last year, that 
there is a possibility that Afghanistan's drug crop will be 
bigger than ever this year, and that trafficking is a large 
concern for the United States in the Central Asia region. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
CARICC AND COUNTER-NARCOTICS COOPERATION AND TIP 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) A/S Boucher inquired as to the status of the 
Central Asia Regional Information Coordination Center 
(CARICC), an intergovernmental anti-narcotics center to be 
located in Almaty.  Mukhamedzhanov explained that CARICC 
falls under the control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MFA) in cooperation with the United Nations.  However, he 
met yesterday with Foreign Minister Tokayev and the Chairman 
of the CARICC Committee Tazha on logistical questions, 
including the exact location of the building, who the 
employees would be, and where they would live.  A/S Boucher 
then expressed interest in the anti-TIP training center in 
Karaganda (reftel) becoming a regional center, similar to 
the CARICC project. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Mukhamedzhanov requested further cooperation, 
training and information sharing on counter-narcotics 
efforts.  He cited statistics that show a geometrical growth 
in narcotics trafficking: 2.5 times more drug addicts than 
previous years, some as young as 14.  A/S Boucher agreed 
that good opportunities exist to share information, 
techniques and knowledge. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Turning to more sensitive topics, A/S Boucher asked 
the Minister about the ongoing Sarsenbaiuly murder 
investigation, including the status of cooperation with the 
FBI.  Boucher expressed concern that while some have already 
been arrested and charged, there are possibly others 
involved who may still be free.  He stressed the importance 
of taking the investigation to its completion and emphasized 
that the United States would judge the success or failure of 
the process based on the report generated by the FBI. 
Mukhamedzhanov praised the support and cooperation that 
Kazakhstan has received from the United States and the FBI, 
citing that this is the first instance in which they have 
involved another country in their investigation of an 
internal issue.  The Minister explained the process of the 
case according to Kazakhstani law, stating that all of the 
investigations are complete and now the lawyers for all 
sides are familiarizing themselves with the 25 volumes of 
reports.  The next step is for an open hearing, including 
 
ALMATY 00001661  002 OF 002 
 
 
press, of the accused. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Mukhamedzhanov mentioned that the investigators 
feel that those arrested, including Ibragimov and Utembayev, 
are part of a larger group containing former police officers 
who have participated in previous killings over the years. 
He seemed confident that there was sufficient evidence to 
prove this in open court, as well as evidence to overcome 
Utembayev's recant of his initial confession. 
Mukhamedzhanov also clarified that plea bargaining exists 
for those who wish to share information in exchange for a 
lesser sentence. 
 
-------------------- 
RESTRICTED MOVEMENTS 
-------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) A/S Boucher closed the meeting by asking about the 
apparent deterioration of the status of opposition leaders 
and journalists. He highlighted the recent beating of 
Atbakiyev (a journalist from AinaPlus) and expressed hope 
that there would be a full investigation and prosecution for 
the perpetrators.  Mukhamedzhanov countered that there had 
been a similar beating of another journalist that has not 
been discussed in the press at all.  He affirmed that the 
Ministry deals with law enforcement issues and not politics 
and that all crimes are investigated and prosecuted 
regardless of an individual's political leanings. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Boucher asked about Galymzhan Zhakiyanov's 
situation, as the rules of the game seemed to have changed. 
Mukhamedzhanov explained with some frustration that the 
Ministry and the police force, in Zhakiyanov's case, had the 
obligation to enforce the terms of his parole, but not the 
tools.  According to the Minister, previously Zhakiyanov 
only had to inform MVD of his movements, but not ask for 
permission.  Now the court has ruled that Zhakiyanov must 
ask permission to travel outside of Almaty and wait for a 
ruling before traveling.  As such, Zhakiyanov was 
effectively blocked from attending Vice President Cheney's 
roundtable with Kazakhstani opposition leaders on May 6. 
Mukhamedzhanov explained that Zhakiyenov was expected in 
court at 2:30 Friday afternoon to plead his case to travel 
to Astana, a day before the event.  (Note: The hearing 
actually addressed a separate issue and Zhakiyanov was not 
allowed to raise the question of travel to Astana.  End 
note.)  A/S Boucher expressed his very strong interest that 
Zhakiyanov be able to attend the event, noting that both 
President Bush and Vice President Cheney highly value the 
opinions of not only their counterparts, but also other 
voices. 
 
------------------ 
UPCOMING INL VISIT 
------------------ 
 
¶9. (SBU) Both A/S Boucher and Minister Mukhamedzhanov 
praised cooperation to date on counter-narcotics and anti- 
TIP efforts, and expressed the intent to continue to work 
together on these fronts. A/S Boucher reminded the Minister 
of Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law 
Enforcement Affairs Anne Patterson's upcoming visit to 
Astana the following week. Minister Mukhamedzhanov said that 
he was looking forward to talking with her about specific 
cooperation efforts. 
 
ORDWAY