Kazakhstan: Attempts to extort Russian property by Kazakhs in Almaty; incidences of extortion by Kazakh customs and police officials towards Russians (2000-2003)

Although no reports on Kazakhs in Almaty extorting Russian property or incidences of extortion by Kazakh customs and police officials towards Russians were found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, the following information on extortion in Kazakhstan may be of interest.

A 28 February 2002 BBC article reported that police in Almaty denied allegations that they unnecessarily detained and arrested Chechens from the Russian Federation (Interfax 28 Feb. 2002). The Chechens had reportedly travelled to Almaty "'with [the] intent to extort money from various commercial establishments in the city'" (ibid.).

Several sources also report that there is widespread corruption (Country Reports 7 Mar. 2002; Moskovskiye Novosti 23 Apr. 2002; Interfax 20 Apr. 2000), including extortion (RFE/RL 13 Jan. 2003; US 30 Oct. 2002), among police and officials in Kazakhstan. A 13 January 2003 RFE/RL article states that "[e]xtortion is a significant motivation for police officers who are grossly underpaid." Police officers, according to one Human Rights Watch consultant, may intimidate and arrest HIV-positive individuals on minor drug charges in order to fulfill arrest quotas and extort money (RFE/RL 13 Jan. 2003). Moreover, the "Consular Information Sheet" on Kazakhstan, published by the United States, warns that "[i]t is not uncommon for Americans to become victims of harassment and extortion by law enforcement and other officials" (30 Oct. 2002). According to Country Reports (7 Mar. 2002), the Committee for National Security (KNB) in Kazakhstan is attempting to address the country's corruption problems.

Please consult KKT34449.E of 18 May 2000 for further information on government corruption in Kazakhstan.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 7 March 2002. "Kazakhstan."

United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 16 Jan. 2003]

Interfax-Kazakhstan [Almaty, in Russian]. 20 April 2000. "Kazakhs Crack Down on Corruption in Judiciary." (BBC Worldwide Monitoring 20 Apr. 2000/NEXIS)

_____. 28 February 2002. "Kazakh Police Deny Allegations of Unsubstantiated Arrest of Chechens." (BBC Worldwide Monitoring 28 Feb. 2002/NEXIS)

Moskovskiye Novosti [Moscow, in Russian]. 23-29 April 2002. No. 16. Sergey Semenov.

"Kazakhstan: Moscow Weekly Explores Corruption Allegations Surrounding Minister Kakimzhanov." (FBIS-SOV-2002-0426 23 Apr. 2002, p. 14/WNC)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 13 January 2003. Weekday Magazine.

Nikola Krastev. "Kazakhstan: NGO Cites Abuse of People Living with HIV." [Accessed 16 Jan. 2003]

United States (US). 30 October 2002. "Consular Information Sheet: Kazakhstan." United

States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 16 Jan. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Internet sites, including:

Human Rights Watch

Interfax

OCSE Centre in Almaty

Transparency International

World Bank

World News Connection