US embassy cable - 05ALMATY3609

UNCLAS ALMATY 003609 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN (J. MUDGE) 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KZ, 2005 Election, POLITICAL 
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: POLICE RAID KAHAR YOUTH MOVEMENT 
OFFICES 
 
REF: Almaty 2838 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Police raided the Almaty office of the 
Kahar movement on October 4, allegedly in search of proof of 
foreign financing of the relatively controversial youth 
protest movement.  So far there have been no arrests or 
seizures as a result of the raid.  The action was likely 
connected to a presidential decree ordering the procuracy to 
step up its oversight of the electoral process.  End 
summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The evening of October 4, eight police officers 
from the city police department on the fight against 
organized crime raided the Almaty office of the Kahar youth 
movement (reftel).  According to Kahar leader Bakhytzhan 
Toregozhina, the officers said that they were looking for 
"cash received from abroad."  She refused to produce the 
group's accounting records because the police did not have a 
warrant.  After other activists arrived, two platoons of 
police (approx. 100) blockaded the office.  Toregozhina told 
POL FSN that in the three-hour search the only item of 
interest the police found were leaflets containing election 
rules, produced as part of a voter education campaign.  The 
police did not arrest anyone or seize anything. 
 
3. (SBU) Toregozhina told POL FSN that the police said the 
raid was the result of a complaint filed by the mother of 
one activist.  The activist believes his mother was 
blackmailed and forced to file the complaint.  As reported 
reftel, Kahar's open links with youth movements in Ukraine 
(Pora) and Kyrgyzstan (Kel-Kel) have made them a likely 
target for GOK scrutiny. 
 
4. (SBU) After completing the search, the police asked 
Toregozhina to come to police headquarters on October 5. 
Toregozhina told us she planned to comply with the request 
and had hired well-known human rights lawyer Serikkali Musin 
to accompany her. 
 
5. (SBU) A Kahar representative called the Embassy during 
the raid to report the events and request guidance.  Post 
advised the group to cooperate fully with the authorities. 
 
6. (SBU) Comment:  This event is likely linked to President 
Nazarbayev's September 9 decree on elections, which 
instructed the procuracy to increase its oversight of the 
electoral process.  For a Just Kazakhstan has reported 
searches of several of its regional offices following 
publication of the decree.  Post will stay in contact with 
Toregozhina to ascertain whether there is likely to be legal 
action against Kahar.  End comment. 
 
7. (U) Dushanbe minimize considered. 
 
 
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