US embassy cable - 05ALMATY2367

UNCLAS  ALMATY 002367 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN (J. MUDGE) AND DRL/PHD (P. DAVIS, C. 
KUCHTA-HELBLING) 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, PHUM, PINR, KZ, 2005 Election, POLITICAL 
SUBJECT: CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION SCHEDULES EXPERIMENTAL 
ELECTION OF DISTRICT AKIMS 
 
REF: ALMATY 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: The Central Election Commission announced 
on June 21 that four district akims will be chosen by local, 
directly elected legislatures (maslikhats) on August 12. 
This pattern mirrors the selection of national senators by 
oblast level maslikhats (Reftel). Until now, akims had been 
appointed by the President or the higher-level akim. 
Political observers have long called for direct election of 
akims as a key tool in dismantling government corruption. 
These elections, though they will not be widespread and will 
be subject to tight executive control, represent a small 
concession towards greater local self-determination and 
public accountability.  END SUMMARY 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
2.  (U) "Akim" is a generic Kazakh term denoting the leader 
of a unit of government: from the oblast level, where akims 
are roughly equivalent to state governors, to the aul 
(village) level, where they are equivalent to small town 
mayors.  Each akim leads a local administration called an 
akimat.  District akims are a step down from oblast akims; 
the position approximates that of a county executive.  Until 
now, all akims, from the oblast level down, have been 
appointed by the President or a higher-level akim. 
 
LOGISTICS 
--------- 
 
3.  (U) On June 21, the Central Election Commission ("CEC") 
announced that akims in four districts would be chosen by 
direct election on August 12.  The CEC is implementing 
President Nazarbayev's decree of December 6, 2004, and his 
February 2005 annual address to the nation, during which he 
reiterated his support for local election of akims.  The 
districts selected for this trial are Yeskeldy district in 
Almatinskaya Oblast in the southeastern part of the country 
near Almaty; Kokpekty district in Eastern Kazakhstan Oblast; 
Zhangaly district in the Western Kazakhstan Oblast; and 
Timiriazev district in the Northern Kazakhstan Oblast.  The 
CEC was careful to choose one district from each corner of 
the country.  Akims in these districts will be elected for a 
4-year term. 
 
4.  (U) The CEC has set the following schedule for the 
experimental elections: oblast akims will nominate 
candidates from June 27 to July 12; the CEC will register 
eligible nominees from July 2 until July 17; and candidates 
may actively campaign from the time of their registration 
until midnight August 10.  After the maslikhats vote on 
August 12, district election commissions will register the 
winner not later than August 16, and file election results 
with the oblast akim who is to issue a formal order 
appointing the elected akim. 
 
 
BALANCE OF POWER: DISTRICT MASLIKHATS VERSUS OBLAST AKIMS 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
5. (SBU) By controlling the nomination process, oblast akims 
and Astana still retain a significant hand in district akim 
elections.  However, the oblast akim does not appear to have 
independent authority to override the final choice of the 
maslikhat or to dismiss the district akim. The oblast akim 
must obtain the maslikhat's approval to remove the district 
akim, offering a small check on the oblast akim's power. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
6. (SBU) The akimat structure has been heavily criticized by 
the opposition and international observers as a quasi-feudal 
system that encourages systematic corruption by government 
officials.  While not direct elections in the strictest 
sense, the delegation of some power to local maslikhats 
represents some concession to calls for greater public 
accountability and local control over district-level 
affairs.  Moving away, however, from a top-down nomination 
process will be a more difficult step, and Astana's leaders 
will almost certainly proceed cautiously in further 
loosening their grip on control of local affairs, 
 
 
particularly in the wake of events in Uzbekistan and 
Kyrgyzstan. 
 
7. (U)  Minimize for Dushanbe considered. 
 
ORDWAY 
 
 
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