Alieyv casts a long shadow over Kazakh intelligence

politics

Alieyv casts a long shadow over Kazakh intelligence

By SRI ⋅ May 7, 2008 ⋅

Amangeldy Shabdarbayev, Chairman of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (KNB), has confirmed continuing concern about the infamous case of Rakhat Aliyev, while trying to give a positive image of the KNB working closely with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to tackle serious security threats.

Aliyev was fired as ambassador to Austria in June 2007. The Kazakh authorities accused him of ordering the abduction of two bankers and issued an international arrest warrant, but he claims that the charges were fabricated to prevent him from running for president. He is currently seeking asylum in Austria. Alnur Musayev, former head of the Presidential Guard and an associate of Aliyev, is also wanted in Kazakhstan.

Shabdarbayev pointed to close cooperation with the FSB over the extradition of wanted Chechens on Kazakh territory, which has resulted in handing over 10 people in 2007, closer counter-narcotics cooperation and the active implementation of all bilateral security agreements. “The KNB works with the FSB and other Russian special services with a high level of openness, trust and understanding of common threats: Exchange of operational information is arranged on a regular basis, we are active and regular participants in international antiterrorist drills and we compare experiences,” Shabdarbayev told Interfax (Interfax-Kazakhstan, Almaty, April 29). Such statements at a time when the Kazakh security authorities are evidently so concerned about Aliyev’s activities in Austria and their potentially negative impact on Kazakhstan’s international image suggests that the regime may be attempting to remind Aliyev that there are limits on how far he may go, limits that could involve the close connection between Kazakh and Russian intelligence.

By Roger McDermott (Eurasia Daily Monitor)