More than 1600 Kazakhstan corruptionists are hiding abroad

More than 1600 Kazakhstan bribetakers are hiding abroad, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing Ural Mukhamedzhanov, the Lower Chamber deputy (he was the Majilis speaker during the 4th convocation of the Majilis). “A number of corruptionists who laid their hands on the country’s property live at seasides now. This number exceeded 1600 persons last year. They are looking at us with disdain as if saying “what are you going to do with us now?” and counting on their safety,” Mukhamedzhanov said, while supporting the ratification of the Extradition Treaty between Kazakhstan and United Arab Emirates. According to the deputy, only 176 persons from 1618 former Kazakhstan citizens who were put on the Interpol wanted lists have been found so far. The deputy believes that the reason of such low efficiency is that Kazakhstan doesn’t have relevant extradition treaties with most of the countries. Iogan Merkel, First Deputy Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan who presented the Extradition Treaty draft, said that 7 Kazakhstan citizens have fled to the United Arab Emirates. One of them is Anar Meshimbayeva, former Kazakhstan Statistics agency chairman. Kazakhstan has already sent an extradition request to the United Arab Emirates. The Treaty approved by the Majilis on April 4 covers extradition of citizens, provided that both countries admit that their crime is punished with imprisonment for at least one year. However the extradition is not possible if a person's crime is qualified as a political one or if there are solid grounds to assume that the extradition request is related to race, sex, religion and other type of discrimination. Extradition is impossible if the country has priory granted asylum for the person in question. According to the Deputy Prosecutor General, Kazakhstan has already ratified Extradition Treaties with China, South Korea, Lithuania, Mongolia and Turkey. At present Kazakhstan is negotiating treaties with European Union countries.