A campaign to tarnish the reputation. Background

Elections 1999-98

The genesis of Kazhegeldin as a politician can be followed through publications in Kazakhstani mass media. Short passages give an idea how mass media highlighted the activity of the former prime minister, his initiatives as president of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the specific features of his image as a reformer, who had to take hard decisions in the time of radical economic reforms

Falsification in the newspaper Vremya po Grinwichy
Society is being prepared for a possible accident with Kazhegeldin
December 27, 1999

It's not so hard to deceive me!..
Vremya po Grinvichu has become the victim of dirty information technologies.
Central Asian Bulletin, December 25, 1999

Protest Letter of International League for Human Rights to President Nursultan Nazarbaev
The International League for Human Rights is greatly concerned about the detention of bodyguards of former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin
Received by e-mail 22 December 1999

Dining with dictators; White House fetes Kazakh president
Nursultan Nazarbayev is the eighth richest man in the world
The Washington Times, December 20, 1999

Text of report
by the Kazakh news agency Interfax- BBC Worldwide Monitoring,
Kazakhstan on 13th December

A wave of repressions against opposition
Kazakh authorities turn to downright terror
Alma-Ata – Astana, December 13, 1999

Unknown Hooligans Beat Nazarbaev's Opponents
Republican Peoples Party activist was beaten in Almaty.
December 7, 1999

Kazakhstan's Democratic Forum held session
At the session of Kazakhstan's Democratic Forum was discussed the appeal of former Kazakh premier Akezhan Kazhegeldin
RFE/RL Kazakh Report Service, 3 december 1999

See to that you are not overdoing it
Kazakh secret services are looking for a new charge to bring against Kazhegeldin
December 3, 1999 

Commentary on attempts to initiate a dialog between Nursultan Nazarbayev and Akezhan Kazhegeldin
Independent Information and Analytical Agency "POLYTON"
November 30, 1999

Kazakh Accounts Complicate the Relationship Between the Swiss Law Enforcement and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
It is difficult to figure out where the investigation about bank accounts of a high-level Kazakh official has been going
Le Temps, November 5, 1999 г.

Degradation of power
Radical fight against corruption would mean political suicide to Nazarbayev since it goes against the entire authoritarian system he has created
Centralno-Asiatsky Bulletin, November 1999.

Democracy Suffers Another Blow in Kazakhstan
Parliamentary Election is Seriously Flawed.
Washington, October 18, 1999

Prosecutor says he may issue warrant for ex-premier's arrest again
"Very likely" that he would issue a new warrant for the arrest of the republic's former prime minister, Akezhan Kazhegeldin, and send a request to Interpol for his detention.
BBC, October 18, 1999

Swiss Freeze Bank Account
That May Be Linked to Kazakhstan President.
New York Times, October 16, 1999

Kazakstan’s Parliamentary Elections: October 10, 1999
CSCE criticizes parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan
Washington, DC, October 1999

Why are they afraid of Kazhegeldin?
Interview with Russian leading expert on Kazakhstan and Central Asia Victor Shelgunov
“XXI Vek" (XXI Century), October 6, 1999

Kazakhstan voters go to polls to choose parliament's lower house
Some eight million Kazakh voters go to the polls on Sunday.
Agence France Presse, October 9, 1999

Tax police seal office of opposition candidate
Text of report by the Kazakh news agency Interfax-Kazakhstan.
BBC, October 09, 1999

Press release. Press conference: Arrest of Akezhan Kazhegeldin: Political Consequences for the Ruling Regime
Republican National Party of Kazakhstan (RNPK) turns to be a real political force opposing the authoritarian regime.
RNPK Executive Committee, September 21, 1999

Kazakhs admit they sold MiGs
The MiG controversy comes at a time of tension between USA and Kazakhstan
"The Moscow Times", september 14, 1999

RFL/RL Information from Kazakhstan
RFE/RL reports from region (Kazakh report)
RFE/RL reports, 14 September 1999

Capitalism for one family
The family of President Nazarbaev controls major national structures of Kazakhstan
The Washington Times, September 2, 1999

Crisis in Kazakhstan: What’s at stake for Washington
The romantic period of the U.S.-Kazakhstani relations are over
Received via e-mail, August, 1999

A letter by Jan H. Kalicki , UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
Commerce Department officials will continue to encourage the government of Kazakhstan to adopt policies that foster democracy and greater respect for fundamental human rights principles.
Washington, Jule 29, 1999

A letter by George Ingram, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the US Bureau for Europe and the New Independent States
A fundamental component of U.S. policy in Kazakhstan is promotion of democracy and human rights. We have made it clear to the highest levels of Kazakhstan’s government that harassment of opposition is not acceptable.
Jul 29 1999

BRIEFING REPORT: Conditions Bleak for Democracy in Kazakhstan
The "catastrophic" human rights situation in Kazakhstan may be setting the stage for a "social explosion there," four members of that country's democratic opposition told a recent RFE/RL press briefing.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,Washington, DC - July 22, 1999

Fear in Kazakhstan
In the midst of the atmosphere of fear in Kazakhstan there is an underground freedom movement
Washington Times, July 14, 1999

Federal Councellor assures that Switzerland will continue to follow the general human rights situation in Kazakhstan as well as the case of Mr. Akezhan Kazhegeldin
Berne, 2. July 1999  

Recession lingers
Concerns over reform and the side-effects of Russia's crisis have taken their toll
Financial Times (London), July 1, 1999

Democracy still on fragile ground
Challenged by the former prime minister, the president has taken drastic steps to hold on to power.
Financial Times (London), July 1, 1999

Kazakh ex-premier fears detention on return to homeland: lawyers
Former premier Akezhan Kazhegeldin, a target of a politically motivated tax evasion probe cannot return to Kazakhstan for fear of being detained.
Agence France Presse, June 2, 1999

Lawyers urge prosecuted ex-Kazakhstan PM to stay abroad
unless tax evasion charges against him are dropped or unless he receives guarantees that no unlawful action will be taken against him.
Interfax News Agency (Interfax-Kazakhstan), June 2, 1999

A Famous American Attorney Considers Accusations Against A. Kazhegeldin the Kazakhstani Authorities' Revenge for the Opposition Leader's Testimony before the US Congress
Private Address of Attorney Charles R. Both to US Representative Honorable Steny H. Hoyer
May 25, 1999

Kazakhstan Needs New Election Law
Unless Kazakhstan adopts a new law on elections, "there will be no free elections there" and hence little chance for that country to move toward democracy...
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty: ,Washington, DC - 27 April 1999

Series on Parliamentary Elections
Interview with Gaziz Aldamzharov, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Republican National Party of Kazakhstan
Feburary 1999

What’s hidden behind the "war of ambitions"
If the authorities continue their attempts to keep the opposition on the outskirts of political life by force, that would mean a definite turn by Nazarbayev from progress within political structures in favor of holding on to the power of his own.
"Central Asian Bulletin", February 25 1999

Playing at Democracy
N. Nazarbayev, czar of Central Asia's largest country, seems to be slipping. In 1991 the onetime Communist boss was elected first president of independent Kazakhstan with a reassuringly Soviet vote total of 99 percent.
Washington Post, 24 January 1999

Kazakh Leader Wins in Much Criticized Vote
Nursultan Nazarbayev, the steely potentate who has ruled mineral-rich Kazakhstan since the Soviet era, was reelected president Sunday in an election that Western observers described as a sham because a leading challenger was thrown out of the race.
Washington Post, January 12 1999

Soviet-Era Kazakh President In Big Poll Win
Kazakhstan's Soviet-era leader claimed an overwhelming victory Monday in its first contested presidential election, securing seven more years in charge of the vast Central Asian state.
Reuters, 11 January 1999

Business hails Kazakh poll, urges reforms
The re-election of veteran Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev to a new seven-year term will help ensure stability in his resource-rich Central Asian state but he must speed up reforms, analysts and investors said on Monday.
Reuters, 11 January 1999

Rubin on Kazakh Election
11 January 1999

Report
on Kazakstan's Presidential Election, January 10, 1999
Recieved via E-mail

Kazakhstan-Result Astana
Commission head Zagipa Baliyeva told reporters that preliminary figures put Nazarbayev well ahead of his closest rival. Communist Party leader Serikbolsyn Abdildin was second with 13.
Reuters, 10 January 1999

Kazakhstan leader shrugs off criticism of poll
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said he was confident of winning Sunday's presidential poll and shrugged off international criticism of the election process in his vast ex-Soviet state.
Reuters, 10 January 1999

Kazakhstan: Leader certain to win one-horse race
There is little doubt in anyone's mind who is going to win tomorrow's presidential elections, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the 58-year-old leader of Kazakhstan since Soviet times, dominates the election campaign.
Finantial Times, 9 January 1999

Kazakstan Weathers Worst of Turmoil
ALMATY, Kazakstan - The key Central Asian state of Kazakstan has weathered the worst of the global financial crisis, and international bankers think this Western Europe-sized country will keep plugging ahead, despite charges of a rigged presidential election due on Sunday…
The Wall Street Journal, 8 January 1999

Human Rights Watch on elections in Kazakhstan
On Wednesday, four days before the elections of Kazakhstan president, the American human rights monitors have expressed their doubt as to their fair and square character.
Vremya po Grinvichu, 8 January 1999

Chronicle of elections
Vremya po Grinvichu, 8 January 1999

Briefs on presidential candidates
This Sunday, 10 January, 8 million voters will express their will at the first since 1991 president elections in Kazakhstan.
Vremya po Grinvichu, 8 January 1999

Serkibolsyn Abdildin: Elections in Kazakhstan are illegitimate
To-date, presidential candidate and left opposition leader Serkibolsyn Abdildin held in Almaty a round-up pre-election press-conference for the Kazakhstan and foreign pressmen.
8 January 1999

Nazarbayev defies accusations of Kazakh democrats on the eve of elections
In his written interview to the France Press Agency, Nazarbayev stated that he came out in favor of forming a multi-party system, electivity of the local government structures and the independent mass media as the fundamentals of democratic principles. He warned, however, that this kind of reforms in the former Soviet Central Asian republic had to be introduced step by step.
Vremya po Grinvichu, 8 January 1999

Kazakhstan’s presidential campaign found grossly unfair
Coercion, threats and the repression of opposition activists have characterized the presidential election campaign in Kazakhstan, Human Rights Watch charged today.
January 5 1999

How much has been spent for the president's campaign?
January  1999

Akezhan Kazhegeldin is prepared to sell off his chateau in Belgium for $50
An abridged interview with Amirzhan Kosanov, Akezhan Kazhegeldin’s press secretary
December, Almaty

EU exacts democratic elections in Kazakhstan
The German embassy, in charge of the EU Almaty board, informs of the 17 December statement by the Austrian EU representatives at the OSCE permanent council in relation to early 10 January elections in Kazakhstan
Panorama, 25 December 1998

Congress of the United States
Appeal to the President
Congress of the United States, 8 December 1998

Mr. Nazarbayev sheds his gentlemanly reputation
The president of Kazakhstan has repeatedly assured U.S. administration dignitaries that the January 10, 1999 elections will be fair and square. At the end of the day, though, the Americans woke up to having been hoodwinked all along.
The Central Asian Bulletin, December 6 1998

Is 90 Percent of Vote Suspicious? Charge Puzzles Kazakh Leader
The New York Times, December 6 1998

OSCE calls on Kazakhstan to postpone election
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has urged the government of Kazakhstan to postpone a presidential election set for January 10, citing bans imposed on two opposition candidates.By Mike Collett-White
Eastern, 4 December 1998

USA criticize Kazakhstan for disqualifying Kazhegeldin
25 November, USA criticized the decision of Supreme Court of Kazakhstan to disqualify Nursultan Nazarbayev's most serious challenge from running. The decision, though in accord with the amends to Law on elections, contradicts the international commitments of Kazakhstan as OSCE member state, - said spokesman for the US State Department James Rubin.
Vremya po Grinvichu, 27 November 1998

Supreme Court of Kazakhstan not allowed Kazhegeldin's appeal
The Supreme Court of Kazakhstan announced last Tuesday that former PM Akezhan Kazhegeldin will not be allowed to take part in January 1999 presidential election and confirmed the previously made judgement of the RK Central Electoral Commission.
Vremya po Grinwichu, 25 November 1998

Statement by US Department of State, Office of Spokesman, James Rubin
Kazakhstan: Supreme Court Confirms former PM Kazhegeldin disqualified from running
25 November 1998

For Fair Election association gives rise to a new political party
The still not registered Fair Election association will form the core of the new opposition-minded political party.
Ak-bota, 21 November 1998

Central Election Commission in Kazakhstan Refuses to Talk with Kazhegeldin's Spokesman
Fedor Abramenko was not even given a chance to talk with the officers, to say nothing of Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Kazakhstan.
451 po Farengeitu, November 1998

Image is Nothing. Craving for Power is Everything
Sergei Duvanov describes developments in Kazakhstan: "The authorities preferred not to tempt the fate and, so as not to take chances, decided to strike Kazhegeldin off the ballot”.
451 po Farengeitu, November 1998.

Akezhan Kazhegeldin found guilty again. This time for disrespect to the court.
After three hours hearing in court, judge N.A. Nizamedinova issued court decision imposing an administrative penalty on Kazhegeldin and a 1320 tenge fine.
18 November 1998

Decision of the Medeu (Almaty) district court
in relation to citizen Akezhan Kazhegeldin
18 November, 1998

Glimpses of presidential candidates’ views
Quotes from statements
Dat, November 13, 1998

Kazakhstan - Election - Satarov
Georgy Satarov comments on the current pre-election situation in Kazakhstan.
November, 1998

Kazakhstan's Empty Election
Mr. Nazarbayev is a thinly disguised dictator who stages elections he has no chance of losing. Few Western leaders complain because he is seen as the guarantor of stability in an oil-rich nation.
The New York Times, November 9, 1998

Mr. KNB Major-General, are You an Honorable Man?
As the fall has set in, we are in for elections, while “canards” have taken wing.
Yarmarka, 5 November 1998

Power Begins the Offensive on the Country's Presidential Hopefuls
Chronicle of Recent Events.
Dat, 4 November, 1998.

Persecution Continues
Court persecution of Akezhan Kazhegeldin, aimed at making him drop out of registration as candidate for presidential election in Kazakhstan, still goes on in Almaty.
Amirzhan Kosanov, Akezhan Kazhegeldn's press-aide,
Almaty, 27 October.98

Election in Kazakhstan Gets a Dose Of the West
"If the intended message is that Mr. Kazhegeldin, 46, a businessman and former Prime Minister, should drop out of next January's presidential election, he is not listening".
The American journalist view of the Kazakhstan pre-election campaign.
New-York Times, 24 October 1998

Statement of the Kazakhstan Russian Community
Social survey performed by the Russian Community in Kazakhstan regarding the latest events connected with amendments to the Republic of Kazakhstan Constitution and with early election of the President of the Republic, evidence on diverse opinion of citizens to these events.
Russian Community in Kazakhstan, October 23, 1998

Why Nazarbayev is Afraid of the Honest Election?
23 October 1998

Royal Prosecutor in Brussels Refutes Insinuations of Kazakhstan National Security Regarding Akezhan Kazhegeldin
On October 22, 1998, Mr. Kazhegeldin’s lawyer Roger Lallemand sent a request letter to the Royal Prosecutor in Brussels.October 22, 1998

Akezhan Kazhegeldin is Sentenced by Court,
20 October 1998, Almaty

Press-Conference of Experts from Russia and USA
20 October 1998

Glasnost is Remedy to All Trouble
Dat, 19 October 1998

Sertificate
Disproving false accusations published in
Novoye Pokolenie,  16 October 1998

Kazakhstan National Security Insists That Kazhegeldin Is Under Investigation
The press service of Kazakhstan National Security confirmed the information released earlier that Belgian police is conducting an investigation on the facts of “corruption violations” on the part of the former prime-minister, a presidential candidate Akezhan Kazhegeldin.
10 October