One of the favourite themes of the Kazakh mass media – a bid for chairmanship in the OSCE – was significantly saddened last week. Besides the ongoing scandal with infection of 55 babies with HIV and continued reduction of the country’s science potential (both factors vividly show the level of human dimension), politics have also added to the negative balance.

Total absence of any (even decorative) mechanism of local self-government was proved by the course of preparation for “elections” of Akims of districts and cities – only two candidacies are running for the posts so far. The procedure is rather comical – akims (that are appointed directly by the president; furthermore, they are all members of the presidential “Otan” party) nominate candidacies, and then Maslikhats (local representative bodies having the least authority in the country) cast their vote.

Another alarming fact is a drat law amending legislation about freedom of assembly, introduced to the Parliament. The already restrictive regulations complicate staging of gatherings, which, if allowed, are to be held on the outskirts. New draft equates the participants of peaceful assemblies with terrorists and allows authorities to disperse rallies with tear gas, water cannons, war dogs and armored cars. How this corresponds with the ambitions to lead the OSCE? It looks more as a mockery against the background of the OSCE roundtable that took place in Almaty last week. Its topic was “freedom of assembly”.

Meanwhile, the confrontation between the Almaty citizens and construction companies, backed by the city administration, keeps on evolving. The advocacy group decided to stage a rally again (earlier, they dropped their application for a rally because the General Prosecutor intervened in the case with Shanyraq) and informed on new clashes, now in “Kalkaman” district. On Sep 08, a group of youth activists and journalists tried to hand over a petition against unfair compensations to the evicted flat-owners to the KUAT Construction Company. They did not succeed, and were harshly beaten by the company’s security guards.

Foreign activity of the Kazakh government, as usual, was the most pretentious. CIS reaffirmed its unanimous support for the Kazakhstan’s OSCE epic campaign – however, the OSCE itself has probably been alarmed by hearing once again that Kazakhstan shares Russia’s views on the OSCE reform (Russia seeks to reduce democratic and human rights component of the OSCE). Meanwhile, a scandal with detention of Kyrgyz MP Tekebaev in Warsaw appeared to be linked to Kazakh special services, which were involved in this provocation against the oppositionist – a fax pointing to Tekebaev’s luggage was sent from Astana.

President Nazarbayev has had a week of fulfilled wishes – Prof. Gazi from Pakistan speaking at the Religious Forum in Astana promised to nominate N. Nazarbayev for the Nobel Prize. As the Forum delegates were loudly expressing admiration with Astana, the President and the Pyramid, Krishna followers held rallies in Washington and New York City protesting against harassment of their brothers-in-faith in Kazakhstan. And the U.S. State Dept’s report unambigously states: “The overall status of religious freedom deteriorated somewhat during 2005″

Another reason to party – the White House, finally, officially declared the date of Nazarbayev’s visit: “on Sep 29, presidents will discuss a range of issues including democracy promotion, the war on terror, energy diversification, expanding prosperity…” A high-ranking official from the Kazakh embassy in Washington added that Nazarbayev will raise the issue of British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, whose Borat character frays the nerves of the Kazakh officials. This would be the best publicity any actor or movie can dream about.