New Russia-dominated NATO-style rapid-reaction force kicks off first military exercises
New Russia-dominated NATO-style rapid-reaction force kicks off first military exercises
"It's a challenge. I mentioned it this morning in my opening statement. Other speakers alluded to it without actually mentioning it by name. There was a silent protest when the representative of Kazakhstan gave her opening speech. This was because of the imprisonment of Yevgeny Zhovtis, who's a human rights worker. It's a criminal case having to do with a fatal car accident [and] there is concern about his treatment. So, people understand that this is a real challenge for them and we hope that Kazakhstan can rise to the occasion."
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Center in Kazakhstan has declined to comment on a legislative movement afoot to make Nursultan Nazarbaev the country's president-for-life, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has urged Kazakhstan to ensure a fair appeal trial for a human rights activist jailed in a case he has called politically motivated.
Russia's coercion of its neighbors is a looming flash point for Europe and the United States, and President-elect Barack Obama. Autocratic Russia is bent on exploiting weak neighbors and reversing perceived humiliations since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and the State Department today concluded a two-day discussion with a delegation of officials from Kazakhstan about the Central Asia country’s upcoming chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Case Underscores Concerns about Country’s Upcoming OSCE Chairmanship
Turkmen president says gas-rich nation will build Caspian Sea naval base amid energy disput
The decision to make Kazakhstan chairman of the OSCE was made by the member countries solely to promote the relations between the East and the West, said Alexander Kelchevsky, the head of the OSCE center in Kazakhstan.
Vladimir Kozlov, director of the steering committee of the Alga! Party (Ahead!) that is still remains unregistered with the Justice Ministry,announced a new campaign to legalize the movement.