The Maltese Authorities say that they do not know that he is in our country.
The victims and persons who are allegedly holding the former high official of the Kazakhstan secret service responsible for the torture they suffered, in the past few days have increased pressure so that Rakhat Aliyev - who is currently sheltering in our country, be subject to proceedings and responds to the accusations being made in his regard. In March, prosecutors came to our country and interrogated Aliyev. However, despite this, when sources close to the victims spoke out and contacted government officials in Malta, the latter reiterated that they do not hold any information that Rakhat Aliyev is in our country. The same sources asked: «How could the Maltese authorities remain silent. They have remained silent since last July, when we came to Malta for the first time in regard to this case. Since then, silence has been maintained and now they continue to say that they do not know that he is here, when he was interrogated».
The same sources told us: «This Government's attitude will not make us give up. We will continue exerting pressure so that finally justice will be done. We are expecting that the Maltese Government to cooperate in this case».
The same sources, who are in charge of the case for these relatives, have passed documents to It-Torċa which show the ongoing undertaking in regard to this case, including documents regarding cases linked to Aliyev and the asylum which he has sought in 'Malta. Everything indicates that Aliyev succeeded in coming to Malta after he was issued a passport from Austria. Despite the fact that a few months ago, sources close to the Police told us that they did not find Rakhat Aliyev in the indicated address in Sliema, It-Torċa holds a document which shows that the Maltese Police received letters from persons who have initiated proceedings against Aliyev.
In the document held by IT- TORĊA, it emerges that the Maltese Police is stating that whatever is being said does not constitute war crimes. The same Police also said that Aliyev is not a permanent resident in Malta. All this, despite the fact that it is evident that foreign prosecutors interrogated him in 'Malta.
Rakhat Aliyev is a former high official in the Kazakhstan service and was married to the President's daughter and a former Kazakhstan diplomat in Austria. He had expressed his disagreement with the President of Kazakhstan and ended up fleeing the country. He succceded in finding asylum in our country.
It-TORĊA, following its published reports in regard to Aliyev's case last July, and at the time it was stated that he was sheltering in Malta, we have been informed that it would be better to leave Rakhat Aliyev in peace because they needed him in regard to projects that they were working on.
In the meantime, Peter Afanasenko, a former security official of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan and one of those who initiated proceedings against Aliyev, in comments to IT-TORĊA had said: «I was arrested 12 years ago. At the time I was 42 years old. I was very healthy and full of energy. I was coerced to admit that I was involved in a coup d'etat planned to happen in Kazakhstan. They locked me up in jail and I experienced all methods of torture. What I want today is to clear my name of these accusations. I want justice done. This is why I initiated proceedings against Rakhat Aliyev».
Afanasenko who today holds refugee status and lives in Belgium had also told us that «All that I am asking is to clear my name and my reputation. My wife and children have suffered a lot. They have been humiliated. I am not a politician. I was an officer in the secret service and I suffered morally and also physical injuries in fabricated criminal cases. I hold Aliyev responsible for this».
Rakhat Aliyev served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kazakhstan Goverment until February 2007. On the 6th of February 2007, investigators in Kazakhstan stated that they were investigating two former executive officers of Nurbank on suspicion of fraud. These two eventually vanished and all fingers were pointing at Aliyev. An event which led to Aliyev being given a diplomatic position in Austria. On the 22nd of May, Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan signed the constitutional amendments to remain President for life, an action which led to strong criticism. Aliyev, despite the fact that he was married to his daughter was one of those who criticized him.
The President of Kazakhstan discharged Aliyev from every position and afterwards his wife was coerced to divorce him. At the end of March 2008, the military Court declared Aliyev as one of those planning a coup d'etat and condemned him to 20 years' imprisonment.
He was also found guilty 'in abstentia' with charges of the kidnapping of two Nurbank managers.
In May last year, the corpses of the former executive officials of Nurbank were found, and it emerged that they were choked to death and tortured. Aliyev always denied the accusations in his regard.
IT- TORĊA, Valetta
http://www.torca.com.mt/FullArticle.php?ID1='Ahbarijiet'&ID2=41888
