FM and OSCE chair Kanat Saudabaev early month visited U.S., failed to secure support to convene OSCE summit; 2 Feb participated in U.S. “Helsinki” Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe hearing to defend Kazakhstan rights record. OSCE media freedom representative 8 Feb denounced 1 Feb court ruling against 5 opposition newspapers for printing corruption allegations concerning president’s son-in-law Timur Kulibayev. Followed by some steps to ease pressure on media: injunction, libel cases against newspapers overturned 9 Feb, investigation into charges against Kulibayev launched 11 Feb; publishing ban for libel imposed Oct 2009 on opposition newspaper Respublica lifted 16 Feb.

Govt 14 Jan assumed chairmanship of OSCE, stressing security over human rights dimension of organization, announcing new security architecture in Europe, resolution of post-Soviet frozen conflicts, fight against terrorism, reconstruction of Afghanistan as priorities of term. Govt 27 Jan finalised agreement with NATO on transit of supplies to ISAF forces in Afghanistan.

Chinese president Hu Jintao 12 Dec attended opening of Kazakh section of Turkmen-Chinese pipeline set to export 10bn cubic metres of Kazakh gas to China; both presidents attended 14 Dec pipeline launch in Ashgabat. At Athens OSCE Ministerial Council 1-2 Dec, head of OSCE democratisation and rights body urged govt to improve democracy, human rights record ahead of Kazakhstan’s 2010 OSCE chairmanship. Govt 30 Dec denied press reports of secret agreement to sell 1,350 tons of purified uranium ore to Iran.

19 Nov Parliament bill approving tougher laws on invasion of privacy condemned by opposition as attack on press freedom. Reports emerged mid month govt hired Washington lobbying firm on $1.5m contract to remove human rights certification requirements for receipt of U.S. aid. Son of Muslim union leader severely beaten 26 Nov, allegedly in retaliation for criticism of authorities by father.

Ruling Nur-Otan party 14 Sept proposed legislation allowing President Nazarbaev to remain president for life. Court 3 Sept sentenced prominent human rights activist Yevgeny Zhovtis to 4 years in jail for manslaughter. U.S., OSCE spoke out against sentence, OSCE (to be chaired by Kazakhstan starting Jan 2010) and Ombudsman called for fair appeal; several rallies held in his support. Independent newspaper “Respublica” ordered to pay $400,000 for libel against state-run BTA bank, prompting further OSCE criticism. Demarcation issues discussed at informal Caspian summit 11 Sept. Military exercises involving Kazakh, U.S., UK troops began in south 14 Sept; Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members started military exercises in north 17 Sept.

Owner and editor of independent weekly newspaper jailed for 3 years for publication of state secrets; case condemned by rights activists, OSCE. Two independent papers reported they face closure due to court orders to pay heavy damages, claim cases politically motivated.

President Nazarbaev 10 July signed into law new controls on internet, in spite of call for veto from OSCE, which called bill “repressive”.

Following late-May arrest of head of state nuclear company Kazatomprom, high-profile arrests continued, including early-June arrest of chairman of Statistics Committee. Defence minister and former PM Danial Akhmetov sacked 17 June. President Nazarbaev 13 June said Kazakhstan suspended WTO talks, wants WTO membership as single Customs Union with Russia, Belarus. Govt 25 June said Kazakhstan won’t participate in Nabucco gas pipeline project. Parliament 25 June amended internet law ruling online resources to be considered mass media. President marked 20 years in power 22 June

NATO 14 May invited Kazakhstan to join its Afghanistan operations, citing high readiness, technical compatibility of Kazakh military; no formal answer from Astana. Govt 13 May signed into law agreement with Russia and Turkmenistan on participation in Moscow-led pipeline; followed 8 May refusal to sign Prague EU energy summit final declaration on transport of energy supplies to Europe. Govt banned distribution of “Godfather-in-law” memoir published by Rakhat Aliyev, former son-in-law of President Nazarbaev, citing breaches of state secrecy.