KZBlog

Following his conviction for kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, misuse of state property and fraud and sentence of 20 years in prison, Rakhat Aliyev, former son-in-law of President Nazarbayev, former Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former head of the KNB, among other posts, was tried and convicted by a military tribunal. Because the trial involved discussion of state secrets, the trial was closed to the public and the press. Aliyev was sentenced to 20 more years on charges of plotting to take over the government through force.

Alnur Musayev, who has held various security positions including head of the National Security Committee and head of the Presidential Guard (as did Aliyev formerly) was also convicted for conspiring with Aliyev. Musayev is allegedly also in Austria with Aliyev. Both men would begin their sentence were they to return to Kazakhstan or be extradited.

According to the report from the Office of the Prosecutor, shown on Khabar television last night, starting in 1996 Aliyev and Musayev used their positions in security organizations to assemble a military force with the goal of overthrowing the government violently. These men were spread throughout police and military organizations such as the Presidential Guard, the KNB, and the Financial Police to disguise their purposes. Aliyev personally paid them to ensure their loyalty to him.

The prosecutor mentioned that Aliyev had put together a media empire that covered the entire territory of Kazakhstan (until the sale of these assets to his ex-wife Dariga Nazarbayeva and/or their nationalization) and had Internet resources ready to spread propaganda.

Aliyev and Musayev apparently also developed a new kind of poison,which may have been tested on human beings, and prepared over 1000 doses for the purpose of assassinations. Toward this end he prepared James Bond like pens that also can shoot poison. Furthermore the two were assembling radioactive material.

When you add to this the telephone calls that Aliyev allegedly recorded from bugs in the phones of various high government leaders, Aliyev seems to have had quite a bit of power and reach. It’s probably for the best that he is sequestered in Austria at the moment.