I thought I would have a chance to add valuable information to Leila’s article on Neweurasia, Kazakhstan: Money, Kidnapping, Money, Power, Money…, when I heard that Rakhat Aliyev was being sent to Vienna as Ambassador to Austria and to head all Kazakhstan offices there. He has been there before, 5 years ago, and we will note that the OSCE is based in Vienna. Leila’s article is a fascinating read about a confusing set of events surrounding Nurbank, a bank widely believed to be connected to the Nazarbayev family, including the alleged kidnapping of first deputy chairman of the board–twice! He accused Rakhat Aliyev, the son-in-law of the President.

So now we know why Mr. Aliyev is leaving. On a second read of the article, I see that Leila did predict this: (more…)