Air Kazakhstan

Another swindle has occurred at the Almaty International Airport. Men posing as "meet and greet" airport facilitators lure foreigners into cars purportedly to take them to their hotels. However, the driver takes the passengers to a secluded destination and then demands approximately $100 for gas to take the foreigner back to the city. All travelers should make prior arrangements with their contacts in Almaty for concrete identification upon arrival at the airport. Americans should not leave with anyone who does not show pre-arranged identification, even if the person is holding a sign with the traveler's name. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Living Room: Sofa, love seat (space permitting), easy chairs, end tables, coffee table, table lamps, bookcase.  Dining Room: Dining table and chairs (8-12), china cabinet, buffet/server.  Study/Den: Sofa, easy chair, end table, desk and chair, lamps (not all homes have a study/den). Master Bedroom: Queen-sized bed, bureau w/mirror, chest of drawers, end tables, lamps, wardrobes (if not built in). Other Bedrooms: Twin bed(s), bureau w/mirror, chest of drawers, end table(s), lamp. Appliances: Refrigerator, stove, microwave, freezer (space permitting), dishwasher (space permitting), washer and dryer.  Miscellaneous: Vacuum cleaner, transformer(s), smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers are provided.  One A/C unit will be provided for the living room and each occupied bedroom, and can be requested for the dining room. ... [Read More]

Kazakhstan

According to the Constitution, the President proposes nominees for the Supreme Court to the upper house of Parliament (the Senate) through the Supreme Judicial Council, which includes the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, the Chairman of the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General, the Minister of Justice, senators, judges, and other persons appointed by the President. The President appoints oblast judges (nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council) and local level judges from a list presented by the MOJ.  The list was based on recommendations from the Qualification Collegium of Justice, an institution made up of deputies from the lower house of Parliament (the Mazhilis), judges, public prosecutors, legal experts, and MOJ officials.  The President appoints the Collegium chairman. ... [Read More]

Kazakhstan: Harassment of Political Opposition and Independent Media
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Central Asia: Developments and the Administration's Policy
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Kazakhstan

A flawed provision in the electoral law was used to disqualify from the 1999 parliamentary election another RNPK candidate, deputy party chairman Gaziz Aldamzharov, after he apparently received a majority of votes in an election in Atyrau. The CEC annulled the second round of the Atyrau election, as well as two other second-round elections, but gave no specific reason in its official decree. The electoral law precludes all candidates who participated in an invalidated election from running in a make- up election, regardless of who was responsible for the violations that led to invalidating the election. The CEC interpreted this provision to exclude from the 3 rerun elections all of the approximately 500 candidates who ran unsuccessfully for any Majilis seat in 1999. Although the CEC did not formally specify the reason for invalidating the Atyrau election, the CEC chairperson said in a television interview that district and precinct electoral officials in Atyrau refused to certify proto ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Visas are no longer required for diplomats traveling to the Kyrgyz Republic on diplomatic passports.  However, official and regular issue passport holders are required to obtain Kyrgyz visas.  Travelers arriving via the International Airport in Almaty, Kazakhstan and transiting by car to the Kyrgyz Republic will need Kazakh visas.  Post recommends travelers take the United Airlines flight to London and then to Bishkek on British Air.  Another option is to travel to Frankfurt and then to Istanbul.  From Istanbul, there are three Turkish Airline flights a week to Bishkek.  Your sponsor and an embassy driver will meet you at the airport and assist you upon your arrival in Bishkek.  The cost of the VIP service in Bishkek is $40.  Some mission personnel use an American flag carrier to fly to Frankfurt, and then proceed on to Almaty, Kazakhstan, via Lufthansa, Austrian Air, KLM, or Turkish Air (via Istanbul).  Arrivals are met in Almaty by a drive ... [Read More]

What Does Disarmament Look Like?
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Other Releases

1111--06/20/05   Joint Chairmen's Report on the EU-U.S. Dialogue on Terrorism Finance; Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs; Washington, DC ... [Read More]