The Downfall of Rakhat Aliev
Interfax Kazakhstan reported today that a criminal case is initiated against Rakhat Aliev on the charges of kidnapping.
Aliev, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Austria, a shareholder in “Nurbank” and the president’s son-in-law, is charged with the kidnapping of the former head of the Board of “Nurbank” Abilmazhen Gilimov, and a former first deputy of the bank’s Board Zholdas Timraliev.
As Kozhakhmetov (press secretary of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) said, “the head of the state gave a personal order to a prosecutor general and a minister of internal affairs to conduct the most detailed investigation of these criminal cases, without regard for positions and privileges”.
On May 22 media published a letter by Gilimov himself to a judge of the Medeu District Court in Almaty, where he wrote about being kidnapped by Aliev on 18 January. The letter was full of apalling details of Aliyev’s behavior. “In banya R.Aliev handcuffed us and, threatening with the gun, demanded that all our friends, acquaintances and relatives who have credits in “Nurbank” share their businesses with him”. ”Aliev told me: I can do whatever I want in this country. I’ve created a gossip that we were flying to Kiyev. I will put the border-crossing stamps in your passports and bury you here. Your relatives and the police can look for you in the Ukraine. If you want to live, your friends have to share with me, and you have to obey my orders”.
Gilimov signed the resignation papers and wrote that he was transferring the 8% of the “Nurbank” shares to Aliev’s family. When he had a minute alone with the guard, Gilimov managed to call his wife and urge her to call the police if he did not return home within an hour. When Aliev found out about this call, he apparently changed his behavior and agreed to Gilimov’s claims to see Timraliev, who was being interrogated in another room.
The three of them negotiated the terms of their “agreement”, according to which Aliev was to pay 34 million dollars “compensation”, he did not have any claims to the managers and promised to stay away from them if they are silent (even offering to have a drink together). Then Timraliev was kidnapped on 31 January, and that was when the whole story uncovered. After that Gilimov was interrogated several times in February, at one point he was demanded to admit his organisation of the kidnapping in the bank…
Rakhat Aliev admitted that he was an informed person in his letter “The Time to Tell the Truth” published in Karavan newspaper, that Rakhat and his wife co-own, on 18 May (as if he felt the trouble was looming):
Lately, me, my family and my colleagues experience a great pressure. We had it before, nothing new. My opponents are skillful in the art of slander.
He goes on revealing the names of his “opponents” that do not surprise anyone in the country:
I will name the two organisers of a slanderous hysteria. They are akim Tasmagambetov and minister of the MIA Mukhamedzhanov. They are closely connected with the criminal elements who are on trial today in Almaty. They are connected not only as relatives and business companions. The money stolen from the bank’s shareholders through the fake companies went to the financial frauds of “Almatyzher” and illegal land operations.
Surely, I am too dangerous for them. They are trying to remove this danger. Their methods are known: slander, blackmail, provocation. The Goebbels recipe that they use requires more lies - they rumor political reasons behind what was going on. It is below my honor to deny these stupid claims.
I am sure Aliev deserves a trial, a fair trial, but he is not going to get one. The country’s justice system singles out those who lost in their fight for power, influence and resources. We are probably going to witness more details of this fight, with more blackmail and slander from both sides. While many people would feel like he really deserves it, few are so dissillusioned to see it as nothing more than dealing with some personal scores.
And the battle continues in media, as Kozhakhmetov said, “the ministry of internal affairs reminds the media about their responsibility for spreading the unsubstantiated information”.
on May 24th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Wow, this is a big story. Good work Leila. I will try to talk with locals about this as much as I can in the coming days.
And you are completely right: this is certainly a representation of corrupt power struggles, not a genuine pursuit of justice or a signal that “the party’s over” for the corrupt bureaucrats/organized criminals. Still, it is a distinct pleasure to see such a slimy character fall; after all, many people see Aliev as not only a kidnapper and an extorter, but also consider him a prime suspect in murders like the one that took place in the apple orchard near Ecik.
on May 24th, 2007 at 8:54 am
It would be great if you write what people think, not only those who have good Internet connection! Yes, agree that he pushed the borders enough. I wonder if this would influence the political future of D. Nazarbayeva. Though for sure her presidential ambitions were also humbled by the constitutional amendments.
on May 24th, 2007 at 9:07 am
I’m curious what you mean, Leila, about the amendments having “humbled” DN’s presidential ambitions? Is it that the possibility her father might stay around longer becomes a barrier? Or that they make the presidency potentially less attractive to her? Or something else.
Very nice post, by the way…
on May 24th, 2007 at 9:22 am
on May 24th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
hi leila , i was reading through the internet and accidently i saw the name of rakhat aliev, i am originally from lebanon and i heared it from rakhat’s brother in law’s(his name is issam and he is married to Rakhat sister also he has a relation with NOUR bank) cousins and relatives that Rakhat was responsible for pushing a brazilian girl off the balcony from the sixth floor after he found out that she was pregnant with his child. I am 100% sure of the story but i leave it to you to try to find out , but they were really certain since Issam is well known in lebanon and owns alot of shops and apartments all over beirut and the refugee camps in lebanon, alot of money used from Nour bank i guess becasue we know issam family they are not that rich and how he made all this money in no time is surprising .
on May 24th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Tony, it sounds like the craziest story ever, but I google “Rakhat Aliev’s sister” and here is what I get from 2001 news: “But Aliev’s sister, Gulshat, who happened to be in Lebanon on 15 November,
held a press conference in Beirut at which she said that his life was in danger and asked international democratic institutions to follow his case. In a nice twist, she said she was afraid her brother might be unlawfully persecuted, and that she would engage American lawyers to help defend his human rights, Kazakhstan Today reported.” Wow.
on May 25th, 2007 at 8:37 am
The new amendment dampens everyone’s ambitions to be President, Dariga’s, Rakhat’s, and Timur’s. Because 1) no one can beat Nazarbayev and 2) it would sure be an awkward New Years party when the kids announced they would run against him. So now the only way to be President is if Poppa dies. Meaning he better neutralize anyone with the desire and means to kill him.
on May 28th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Local Kazakhstan Joke:
President Nazarbaev is playing with his granddaughter, bouncing her on his knee. He asks her, “What would you like to be when you grow up?”
She looks up and replies, “I want to be just like you! I want to be President of Kazakhstan!”
Nazarbaev thinks a minute, then says, “But why would they need two of us?”
on May 29th, 2007 at 6:16 am
Any indication of where Dariga Nazarbayeva is now? Also at large? Days before, was she in Austria or Kazakhstan?
on May 29th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
nonpon, they are searching her house but no news about what is going on with her.
on June 6th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
I have been reading the comments and I saw the craziest story ever concerning the brazilian woman. I think who wrote it is just a depressed jealous guy from a pure success story happened with a guy and not to him.So I think Leila you have to check tony cuz he is a sick man with sick ideas,his aim is to destroy and ruin good men reputation.
on September 25th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Oltiru kerek anau ombagandy!!! Kozin kurtu kerek. Kan isher, zhauyz, ohbagan, sorli. Kanshama adamdardyn koz zhasyn tokti. Kanshama adamdardan tartyp aldy. Eger bizdin govermant-terimiz ony zhazalamasa, baribir *ALLAH* korip tur… KAZAKTAR ALGA!!!