National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan

National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Kazakh: Қазақстан Республикасы Ұлттық Қауіпсіздік Комитеті; Russian: Комитет Национальной Безопасности Республики Казахстан

The emblem of The National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Agency overview
Formed 13 July 1992 (1992-07-13)
Preceding agency
Agency executive
  • Vladimir Zhumakanov, Chairman[1]
Website knb.kz
Footnotes
Also referred to by the abbreviations KNB[2][3] or NSC,[4] or unofficially as the Kazakh National Security Service[5]

The National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NSC) is an intelligence agency in Kazakhstan.[4] It was founded on 13 July 1992.[6]

History

The NSC was created in accordance with a law passed by parliament in July 1992 which authorised the establishment of an agency to replace the KGB, the old national security apparatus of the Soviet Union. Initially, it retained most of the staff which the KGB had employed in Kazakhstan, as well as the powers the KGB had held; its first head, Bulat Baekenov, had worked for the KGB for over two decades. Its early years were marked by close cooperation with Russia on issues of border security and counter-intelligence against alleged foreign spies.[2] In December 1995, a new presidential decree modified some of the NSC's powers.[7]

In November 2008, journalist Ramazan Yesergepov published an article entitled "Who Rules the Country: President or National Security Committee?" It contained private NSC correspondence which was later listed as classified, resulting in his 2009 arrest and conviction on security charges.[8] The case led to domestic and international condemnation.[9][10]

In January 2010, Kazakhstani president Nursultan Nazarbaev appointed his nephew Samat Abish as the NSC's head of human resources; opposition lawmaker Serikbolsyn Abdildin of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan claimed this shows that Nazarbaev considers personal loyalty more important than skill in government posts.[3]

Structure

The NSC includes the Arystan ('Lions') commando unit.[11]

List of chairmen

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lillis, Joanna (2010-10-07), "Kazakhstan: Coup Rumor a Sign of Factional Infighting in Astana", Eurasianet, retrieved 2010-12-13
  2. 1 2 Knight 1997, p. 161
  3. 1 2 "Kazakh President's Nephew Gets Post In Security Service", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2010-01-12, retrieved 2010-01-27
  4. 1 2 McDermott, Roger N. (2006-08-03), "Kazakhstan's Intelligence Service in Disarray", The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Analyst, retrieved 2010-02-02
  5. "KNB Gives Kazakh Uranium Company Head New Lawyer", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2010-01-20, retrieved 2010-02-02
  6. Adequately react to modern threats, Kazakhstan: National Security Committee, 2007-07-13, retrieved 2009-08-01
  7. "Об органах национальной безопасности Республики Казахстан", Ведомости Верховного Совета Республики Казахстан 24 (157), 1995-12-21, retrieved 2010-01-28
  8. "Kazakhstan: Journalist Ramazan Yesergepov faces the prospect of spending the next 8 years behind the bars", Ferghana Information Agency, 2009-01-11, retrieved 2011-04-20
  9. Leonard, Peter (2009-08-13), "Kazakhstan court refuses to free jailed editor", Seattle Times, retrieved 2011-04-20
  10. "Rights group raps Kazakh record before OSCE summit", Daily Times of Pakistan, 2010-12-01, retrieved 2011-04-20
  11. "Suspects in slaying of opposition leader reportedly from Kazakh security service", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2006-02-22, retrieved 2010-12-13
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Кузнецов, Николай (2009-12-11), "Девять жизней Комитета нацбезопасности", Взгляд 45 (134), retrieved 2010-01-28
  13. "Kazakh sackings over plane scandal", BBC News, 1999-08-09, retrieved 2009-08-01
  14. "Central Asia Report: Week at a Glance", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2006-03-10, retrieved 2010-01-27
  15. "Kazakh officers linked to murder", BBC News, 2006-01-26, retrieved 2010-01-28
  16. 1 2 "Kazakhstan Approves New National Security Committee Chief", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2009-12-09, retrieved 2010-01-27
  17. "Kazakh Senate Approves New Intelligence Chief", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2006-03-02, retrieved 2010-01-27

Bibliography

External links

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