This is a translation of Adam Kesher’s post on the Russian language part of our blog.

Kazakhstan’s got a great diplomatic victory. Having only several things on its side - like waivering away Russia’s plan to reform OSCE, declaring adherence to OSCE principles; oil and status of EU’s prospective supplier number one; reputation of tolerant country - diplomats made the West to put a blind eye on unfair elections, absence of media freedom and Soviet-type political system.  

It’s official - the country will head the OSCE in 2010. And it’s officially an unconditioned and final decision. Just as a formality, the government was slightly hurt, stating that there were no serious or objective reasons to reject the initial bid for 2009. But on the whole, this result is a huge victory of the diplomats (in contrast to the last year’s humiliating postponement of the discussion - then Mr. Rakhat Aliev also called it “a success”). It’s for diplomats. For others, a more suitable and loutish word should be employed - bargain. And the deal’s been done. So, our Troika will be consist of Greece, Kazakhstan, Lithuania.  

Well, on the other hand, “unconditionality” of the decision is not exactly unconditional. There are details, according to which Kazakhstan undertakes commitments to reform the election law and media legislation. However,  disappointment and bewilderment is the most frequent and natural reaction to this news. The OSCE’s image is hampered very seriously. Moreover, the promises are not necessarily meant to be realized by the Kazakh government - simply because these are far not the first commitments that were never met by Astana. A statement by Human Rights Watch is sad:

“Kazakhstan doesn’t observe OSCE commitments at home. Entrusting in Kazakhstan the leadership to uphold the organization’s human rights commitments is a singularly bad idea. The Kazakh government has had two years to show that it’s genuinely committed to OSCE human rights principles. While it adopted a few positive measures, it has shown no signs of fundamental change. Now the leverage is gone”.