Public Hearing on Sarsenbayev’s Case
A public hearing dedicated to the conclusion of the preliminary investigation of Altynbek Sarsenvayev’s murder was held on June 13 in Almaty. Immediately after the assassination of a prominent opposition leader in February, a public commission was established to monitor the official investigation of the case by authorities. Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, political ally of Sarsenbayev and a presidential candidate from opposition during the latest presidential elections presided over the commission.
Today Tuyakbai expressed dissatisfaction with the official investigation into the case by the commission. Ever since the arrest of Utembayev, the head of the administration of Senate, upper chamber of the Parliament, connected to the assassination, the investigation took a non-impartial path, said Tuyakbai. The investigators worked on only one, non-political, version of the crime. Their conclusion was that Utembayev ordered an assassination of Sarsenbayev out of personal enmity. Thus all other versions, motives and possible suspects were not properly considered. In this way, assert members of the public commission, authorities tried to de-politicize the assassination of Altymbek Sarsenbayev.
Furthermore, the official investigation failed to answer such questions as - how did the members of special squad ‘Aristan’ were able to access the arms arsenal to carry out the abduction and murder of Sarsenbayev and two of his aides; and who was the man that Utembayev met in airport on the day of assassination and what was his involvement, if any, in the atrocious crime. The overall conclusion is that it is far too early to bring the investigation to conclusion.
According to Evgeny Zhovtis, head of Kazakhstan bureau for human rights, the given assassination may not be considered as not being politically motivated. Sarsenbayev’s articles criticizing Utembayev which were the cause of enmity of the latter towards the first, were the criticisms of Utembayev as an official and a political figure. Thus Utembayev was politically motivated ordering the assassination of Sarsenbayev.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of the country decided that the court hearings into the case are to take place in Taldykorgan, the capital of Almaty oblast rather than in Almaty itself. The members of opposition and relatives of Altynbek Sarsenbayev accused the authorities of trying to keep the case away from public view in fear of public protests. The court hearings are due to start on June 14, 2006.
on June 14th, 2006 at 11:03 am
Thanks, Aldiyar! What about this man that Utembaev met in the airport?
It would be great if you could post an update on the trial.
on June 15th, 2006 at 11:06 am
Zhovtis, being a high-profile lawyer, also prepared a distinct explanation of why this crime should be considered as not just murder, but a terror act. Earlier, the Public Commission urged for it too.
Interestingly, last week numerous relatives and clan-brothers of Utembaev came out with open letter to the president, saying that ex-chief of the Senate’s staff is not guilty. The letter, though being stuffed with pathetic eulogies to Nazarbayev, is a clear sign that the society does not believe the official version. Earlier, Utembayev’s wife told the press that her husband denies his previous “confessions”. Miroshnikov’s (a person accused of murder, along with Ibragimov) wife was also saying that her husband faced physical pressure. Sources that are close to the relatives of the slain, say that ALL of the accused, including commando officers, renounce their initial testimonies and do not admit guilt (it was initially stated that Utembayev had allegedly pleaded guilty).
on June 15th, 2006 at 4:48 pm
Thanks Aldiyar, it’s a good update.
The reality of this, as far as I can tell, is that Rahat Aliyev was behind the murder, and Sarsenbayev was just unlucky to be chosen as a rather visible person to be killed — but that the real target was Utembayev’s boss and Rahat’s longstanding political enemy, Nurtai Abykayev. Does anyone have an opinion on the extent to which this angle — much more political and more sinister than the Zhovtis take on this — is going to come out in the Tuyukbai commission? Probably it depends, like everything in Kazakhstan, on who is paying whom.
on June 16th, 2006 at 7:41 am
The reality of this, like everything in Kazakhstan, is far beyond understanding of an observer, unless he or she is a deep insider. Today it is hard to say what really had happened in the mountains on February 11. The allegations against Rahat were very strong, mainly based on his personal accounts with Sarsenbayev, and on the fact that he could be the one who would have benefited most of all in political terms. At the same time, it may well be a perfectly forged operation to frame him … It is difficult to say now.
As for Tuyakbai Commission, it is out of point talking about who pays it. It is a public commission that gathered regularly to oversee investigation. With the start of trial, it has less importance than the lawyers in court. During the investigation, the Commission pointed to the necessity of interrogation of Dariga, Rahat and many others, saying that they could have had much stronger “enmity” than Utembayev. Besides, Tuyakbai, being the Chairman of the Movement “For a Just Kazakhstan”, turned down the presidential invitation to take part in the State Commission (a simulation of a national debate), saying that he has no moral right to share one table with the possible killers, implying Dariga and, possibly, her father.