Country Reports on Terrorism 2014 - Kazakhstan

Overview: The Government of Kazakhstan continued to express its willingness to increase counterterrorism cooperation with the United States, particularly in the areas of information sharing and law enforcement, as well as in the development of its ability to conduct special counterterrorism operations. The Ministry of Defense has expressed interest in playing a greater role in counterterrorism operations in Kazakhstan, and has sought U.S. assistance to build its capacity. Kazakhstan is emphasizing improving the capability of its existing counterterrorism units rather than developing new ones.

The Government of Kazakhstan views the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as a dangerous terrorist organization and publicly condemned the group. Kazakhstani law enforcement officials have inquired about best practices to counter ISIL propaganda, and in December banned dissemination of ISIL propaganda in Kazakhstan. The head of Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) said publicly in November that approximately 300 Kazakhstani citizens are members of ISIL, and that law enforcement officials are working to identify these individuals.

Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: Kazakhstan has a comprehensive legal counterterrorism framework, which includes laws on countering extremism and terrorism, and relevant bylaws and chapters in the Criminal Code, Procedural Code, and the Law on National security. The new Criminal Code toughens penalties for crimes the government deems to be terrorist and extremist crimes. It also introduced a number of new offences related to terrorist/extremist crimes, such as "creation of bases for preparing mercenaries," "participation in terrorist or extremist training," and "participation in foreign conflicts." It is illegal for Kazakhstani citizens to fight in foreign wars.

The Government of Kazakhstan passed amendments to its counterterrorism legislation in 2014, aiming to bring the country's laws in line with the State Program on Combating Extremism and Terrorism 2013-2017. The amendments allow for expediting cooperation and removing bureaucratic barriers among government bodies engaged in combating extremism and terrorism. The legislation permits the government to shut down any communication network used for spreading terrorism and extremism, the immediate closure of any organization after a court recognizes it as an extremist or terrorist group, and for law enforcement to preemptively issue warnings to persons or organizations engaged in activities that may lead to committing crimes involving terrorism or extremism. The new legislation also allows law enforcement to monitor people released from jail after serving sentences for crimes involving terrorism or extremism. Kazakhstani security services and law enforcement organizations may now deny foreign nationals, including missionaries, who may be involved in extremist or terrorist activities entry into the country; previously foreign nationals could only be denied entry if they had been convicted of such crimes.

Kazakhstan is rapidly increasing its counterterrorism capacity, and government officials actively pursued a program of training and professionalization that appeared to enjoy political support at the highest levels. Kazakhstan remained a partner nation in the Department of State's Antiterrorism Assistance program. The government's counterterrorism plan provides for enhanced interagency cooperation, coordination, and information sharing, but the extent to which this is actually occurring remains unknown. In the past, law enforcement bodies were criticized for killing rather than capturing members of suspected terrorist groups, but over the past several years have shown a greater tendency to arrest, detain, and question suspects. Security forces, including military and law enforcement, are undergoing a process of professionalization and reform with the goal of more effectively discharging their duties. There are four special counterterrorism detachments under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and one under the KNB.

Kazakhstan's Border Guard Service (BGS), which is part of the KNB, uses specialized passport control equipment at each passport control station, allowing officers to check for fraudulent documents. Every officer working at border crossing points must be a graduate of the BGS Academy's four-year program, where they study passport control using passport samples from many different countries. BGS officers receive regular instructions and refresher training.

The BGS uses the Single Information System "Berkut" database, managed by the KNB. The United States has been unable to verify the database's contents but it is likely persons on terrorist watch lists are included. Kazakhstan's BGS officers photograph all foreign visitors arriving in Kazakhstan on international flights.

In recent years Kazakhstan has strengthened security on its southern border by adding radar systems, inspection equipment and vehicles, and specialized mobile inspection groups. Kazakhstani courts convicted 29 people for terrorist offenses in 2014. Law enforcement bodies interdicted nine terrorist plots and arrested several recruiters for attempting to persuade Kazakhstanis to join ISIL. The government registered 52 terrorism and extremism-related crimes.

Countering the Financing of Terrorism: Kazakhstan belongs to the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, a Financial Action Task Force-style regional body. In 2014, Kazakhstan clarified the definitions for what constitutes terrorist financing in the Criminal Code to meet international standards. Engaging in any transfer or exchange of funds, barter, or gift giving conducted knowingly with a terrorist or terrorist group is criminal under Kazakhstani law. Kazakhstan's unregulated financial sector is relatively small.

There was no specific requirement for NGOs to file suspicious transaction reports. The Financial Intelligence Unit under the Ministry of Finance requires banks and other covered institutions to report suspicious financial activity by NGOs, however.

For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, see the 2014 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.

Regional and International Cooperation: Kazakhstan participates in counterterrorism and countering violent extremism activities within the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which has established a joint task force for preventing the propagation of terrorist and extremist ideas via the internet. The Kazakhstani Procurator General's Office cooperates with the OSCE on countering violent extremism and terrorism through joint workshops. Kazakhstan has pledged financial support to the Afghan National Security Forces, including US $2 million in 2014, and is discussing the potential provision of other types of support to the ANSF. Kazakhstan is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which has a limited counterterrorism role. Kazakhstan co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2178 on preventing travel and support for foreign terrorist fighters.

Countering Radicalization to Violence and Violent Extremism: Kazakhstan's counterterrorism efforts focus heavily on preventing radicalization, with particular efforts to educate and provide positive alternatives to youth through social programs and economic opportunities, but the results of these nascent programs are unclear. Critics say Kazakhstan's anti-radicalization efforts are unnecessarily heavy-handed, and could actually encourage radicalization of members of otherwise peaceful religious groups.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Culture and Sport conducts outreach to youth who left Kazakhstan to study abroad at religious schools suspected of indoctrinating youth in extremist ideology. According to the ministry, 41 students returned to Kazakhstan in 2014 due to outreach efforts. Religious experts from the Committee for Religious Affairs reach out to at-risk youth via websites such as E-Islam, which was created to increase religious literacy and to counter radical ideas. Religious experts create groups on social networks such as Facebook and VKontakte, where they post information and answer users' questions about religious extremism. In 2014, the Republican Rehabilitation Center was opened for prisoners convicted of terrorism or extremism, where representatives from the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan regularly meet prisoners to discuss religious extremism. The government also set up 28 regional rehabilitation centers.