VZCZCXRO3057
RR RUEHAST RUEHDBU
DE RUEHTA #3143 2492157
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 062157Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY ALMATY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6824
INFO RUEHAST/USOFFICE ASTANA
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1313
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 7673
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 7697
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 7035
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1855
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1631

UNCLAS ALMATY 003143 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE), DRL/PHD (C. KUCHTA- 
HELBLING), DRL/IRF (N. HEWETT) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SUPREME COURT DENIES HARE KRISHNA 
APPEAL ON EVE OF CONGRESS OF WORLD RELIGIONS 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On August 24, the Supreme Court of 
Kazakhstan denied the Hare Krishnas' appeal of an adverse 
lower court ruling concerning title to their commune in the 
Karasai district, near Almaty.  The GOK now intends to form 
a special commission to resolve the issue.  The Hare 
Krishnas are wary of the special commission, and are afraid 
that it is a smokescreen to deflect criticism of the 
government on the eve of the Congress of World Religions in 
Astana.  The Hare Krishna movement in Kazakhstan is planning 
a public-relations blitz, and Hare Krishnas around the world 
are reportedly planning to protest in front of Kazakhstani 
embassies.  End summary. 
 
HARE KRISHNAS BLINDSIDED BY SUPREME COURT 
 
¶2. (U) On August 24, the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan denied 
the Hare Krishnas' appeal of an adverse lower court ruling 
concerning title to their commune in the Karasai district, 
near Almaty.  The Supreme Court decision is the latest step 
in a long-running effort by the Karasai akim to invalidate 
the Hare Krishnas' ownership of their land, though the 
government was never a party to the original transaction, 
and the statute of limitations expired long before the 
government first initiated their lawsuits. 
 
¶3. (U) According to the Hare Krishnas, they were not 
notified in advance of the August 24 proceeding, and did not 
learn of the court's decision until they contacted the court 
clerk on August 31.  Post did not learn of the decision 
until contacted by the Hare Krishnas on September 6. The 
Hare Krishnas said that the Supreme Court decision did not 
resolve or even address most of the legal arguments made by 
the Krishnas, and essentially repeated the lower-level 
oblast decision. 
 
NEXT STEP: A NEW SPECIAL COMMISSION 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Hare Krishnas report that the Religious Issues 
Committee of the Ministry of Justice now intends to form a 
special commission to resolve the Hare Krishna land issue in 
Karasai.  The Krishnas have been asked to participate on the 
commission, but say that government representatives have 
been unable to explain to them the purpose, authority, or 
composition of the commission.  The Krishnas intend to 
participate, but fear that the commission is a smokescreen 
to deflect criticism on the eve of the Congress of World 
Religions, hosted by President Nazarbayev in Astana on 
September 12-15. 
 
HARE KRISHNAS PLAN PUBLIC-RELATIONS BLITZ 
 
¶5. (U) The Hare Krishna movement in Kazakhstan has contacted 
supporters around the world, and they expect their 
supporters to conduct protests in front of Kazakhstani 
embassies in several cities around the world.  The Hare 
Krishnas also intend to contact the media about their 
situation. 
 
COMMENT 
 
¶6. (U) Comment:  The GOK's handling of the Hare Krishna case 
runs contrary to their message of religious tolerance 
carefully constructed in advance of the Congress of World 
Religions.  The legal basis for the government's actions 
appears weak, and past comments by local government 
officials that the Hare Krishnas are "not accepted as a 
religion" will help fuel a brewing public relations storm 
for the government.  Post will continue to follow events as 
they develop.  End comment. 
 
ORDWAY