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The warning did not take an action but the question continues to be reviewed

On September 25-28, the 38th Meeting of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee reviewed measures undertaken by Kazakhstan to comply with the decision IV/9c. This decision was made by the Forth Meeting of the Parties of the Aarhus Convention which issued a warning to Kazakhstan in relation to the repeated violations of the requirements of the Convention and incompliance with the decision III/6c. Had Kazakhstan not executed the conditions stipulated in the decision IV/9c in the full extent, the warning would have come into action on May 1, 2012. But consideration of the case was delayed.

In the report (1) of the 38th Meeting of the Committee, it is said that after having heard from the representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ecological Society “Green Salvation”, the Committee came to a conclusion that Kazakhstan had taken some measures which could be considered sufficient for the warning not to be brought into an action. But this does not mean that all other propositions of the decision IV/9c were followed. Nevertheless, taking into account the measures undertaken by the Party of the Convention, the Committee is concerned by the slow actions of Kazakhstan in introduction of necessary legal norms, in order to comply with the paragraph 4, Article 9 and the paragraph 3, Article 9 of the Aarhus Convention (p.3: “…each Party shall ensure that, …members of the public have access to administrative or judicial procedures to challenge acts and omissions by private persons and public authorities which contravene provisions of its national law relating to the environment;” p.4: “…shall provide adequate and effective remedies, including injunctive relief as appropriate, and be fair, equitable, timely and not prohibitively expensive.”).

It was also decided that in November 2012, Kazakhstan shall provide information about the further actions on implementation of the decision IV/9c. The information is scheduled for a review at the 39th Meeting of the Committee on December 11-14, 2012.

On the 41st Meeting in 2013, the Committee intends to come back to the question about compliance of Kazakhstan with the decision III/6c resulting in a decision if a recommendation to issue another warning to Kazakhstan shall be made for the Fifth Meeting of the Parties of the Aarhus Convention.

Once again, the Committee ignored the information (letter of the ES “Green Salvation”, conclusions based on the experience of the ES “Green Salvation”) presented by the public about the following facts:
— Kazakhstan did not comply with the decision II/5a of 2005;
— A legal act (Rules on conducting pubic hearings), which is in a direct contradiction to the Convention requirements, operates in the country since 2007;
— The national legislation does not provide the public with a mechanism for realization of their right to participate in the decision making process;
— Access to justice is reduced to a permission to freely enter a courthouse.

_______
1 — Report of the Compliance Committee on its thirty-eighth meeting. Geneva, 25–28 September 2012, p.8; http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/pp/compliance/CC-38/ece.mp.pp.c.1.2012.8_as_submitted.pdf.

Ecological Society Green Salvation.
06.12.2012

Three thousand votes in protection of Kok-Zhailau!

An open public petition with a demand to prohibit construction of a mountain ski resort in Kok-Zhailau valley located in Ile-Alatau National Park was published on the web-site of the Ecological Society Green Salvation in December of the last year. The petition was addressed to the state authorities: Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Finance, Akimat (Mayor’s Office) of Almaty, political parties of Kazakhstan, and also to the President and members of the Parliament.

Signatures of support came from the residents of Almaty and other cities and towns of Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Germany, United States, Canada, Holland, Sweden – people who love mountains and know first-hand about their meaning for physical and spiritual health of the humanity. In the end of August we received a signature which became number three thousand. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to those who openly expressed their opinion and did not hide under pseudonyms and nick-names.

Some might say: “Three thousand votes isn’t much!” And will be right. Yes, it isn’t much! And if we count votes only from Kazakhstan, there would be even less. But for the country lacking democratic traditions where the laws change like seasons, where court decisions are not implemented for years, where public opinion has never been taken into consideration, where the state authorities are paralyzed by the corruption – thousands of votes from our fellow countrymen is already a significant number. It shows that the people start to realize that by expressing their opinion they do not do anything reprehensible, but realize their legal rights by protecting the nature of their motherland.

Some would say: “It is a useless idea, nobody will hear you!” This can be answered by the words of Paul Eluard: “Those who keep silent — lie; — speak out”. Nobody will hear if we keep silent. And if everybody speaks out, our voices will not sink in the stream of the sweet talks about universal benefits of private resorts. Speak out, demand compliance of your constitutional rights, international conventions, defend your right to live in a favorable environment and enjoy the beauties of the national park and Kok-Zhailau valley. It is impermissible to keep silent!

In violation of the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aarhus Convention, the state authorities responded to the petition with their regular runarounds. The presented information confirms once again that legality and public opinion are not respected in our country. The replies which were received are insufficient for decision-making, have neither full, nor reliable information, do not let the public to participate in the process of decision making.

Therefore, we will demand compliance with the Constitution, laws and international conventions again and again.

We continue to collect signatures under the petition and will send out the petition, other requests, demands, and appeals till the destruction of Ile-Alatau National Park and Kok-Zhailau valley, in particular, ceases!

One of the songs of Vladimir Vyssotskiy says: “These are our mountain, they will help us”.

But right now, we need to help them!

Almaty – city of contrasts. View of a foreign tourist

We continue publication of materials from a series “Almaty – city of contrasts”. While the previous photo collection reflected a view of an imaginary tourist, these pictures were taken by a real foreign guest. One of those who are focused on by the supporters of construction of the mountain ski resort on Kok-Zhailau.

City of contrasts covered with smog aroused controversial feelings. There was a natural desire to visit the mountains which look so attractive from a hotel window. But meeting Zailiyski Alatau was shocking. The nature, so close and desired, was difficult to access because many areas of the national park are fenced and are in private property. Common places of recreation equipped for visitors look miserable. Service is antediluvian. Places of public use are under any critic. Squalor is everywhere, and trash, trash, trash…

Will Kok-Zhailau and other spots of Ile-Alatau National Park look the same after being turned into the mountain ski resort of a world class?

Almaty – city of contrasts

It is being said a lot lately about a necessity to actively develop tourism in Kazakhstan. Overall, the idea is absolutely right, but…

Success in development of the tourism industry, for some reason, is being exclusively associated with construction of a large-scale mountain ski resort on the territory of Ile-Alatau National Natural Park. Now, this idea is absolutely wrong and even contradictory to the national legislation. The saddest thing is that supporters of this idea are not willing to use an integrated approach for development of tourism in the country as a whole.

Even big fans of mountain skiing coming to us from far away will most likely be willing to see the city, visit museums, theatres… So, we decided to have a look at what the tourists can see in Almaty.

The main conclusion from this little excursion: Almaty – is a city of contrasts. Unpleasant contrasts! So, may be the money allocated for destruction of the national park would be better spent if solving the urgent problems.

Material prepared by N.Medvedeva.

Photos by N.Medvedeva.

Translated by S.Tairova. 

Appeal to the President of Kazakhstan from the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Germany) Regarding the Project “Kok-Zhailau”

On April 12, 2012, honorary president of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union of Germany (NABU), alternative Nobel prize-winner, professor, Dr. Michael Succow, and vice-president of the NABU, chairman of the NABU International Fund, Thomas Tennhardt, addressed the President of Kazakhstan with an appeal to reject the construction of mountain ski resort in Ile-Alatau National Park. The appeal was also sent to the Minister of Environmental Protection of the RK, Kapparov N.D., Minister of Agriculture of the RK, Mamytbekov A.S., and Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the RK, Issekeshev A.O.
Dear Mr. President Nursultan A. Nazarbayev,

With this appeal we, first of all, welcome the desire of the government of Kazakhstan to expand and develop the network of specially protected natural territories (SPNT) of the country. Expansion of the territories and creation of new SPNT, as outlined in the program “Zhassyl Damu”, proves that Kazakhstan is on the right track towards fulfilling its goal of expanding the area of the SPNT to 11.5% of the territory of the country in the nearest future, which corresponds to the average international value. The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union of Germany (NABU) would like to assist the government of Kazakhstan in realization of these initiatives. That is why on July 25, 2011, in the signed memorandum with the Forestry and Game Committee which is responsible for the SPNT, the NABU offered several specific directions of collaboration. A high importance is given to development of ecological tourism and nomination of the territories of the SPNT into the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. For many years already, the NABU has been promoting ecological tourism in Kazakhstan and provided a significant support in successful nomination of the territory of Sary-Arka into the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. Out of the five territories included by Kazakhstan into the tentative list for the nomination for UNESCO World Natural Heritage, we give a special high value to the potential of the nature reserve Aksu-Zhabagly and national parks “Altyn-Emel” and Ile-Alatau. We are ready to actively facilitate their nomination into the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List.

However, with a big regret, we found out from the publications in international and Kazakhstan mass-media that a large area of Ile-Alatau National Park to the south of Almaty is planned to be withdrawn to be turned into a mountain ski resort. The lands chosen for the development in the area of Kok-Zhailau Hollow and large adjacent territories are the heart of the national park and are inhabited by many rare species of animals and plants. Specifically, rare types of insects and Sivers wild apple tree, being the world’s cultural and natural heritage of the humanity, play a special role for nomination of the national park into the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. With construction of the mountain ski resort, the national park will lose its unity and will not be qualified as an object of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage.

We are convinced that nomination into the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List will increase potential for development of sustainable tourism in the park, and that on a long run, this will result in a bigger advantage that construction of the ski resort.

We certainly welcome the desire to develop tourism in Kazakhstan. Development of ecological tourism in the country is being supported for many years already with a help of the project ETPACK (Ecological Tourism and Public Awareness in Central Kazakhstan) and other projects of the NABU. Special attention is given to collaboration with the local rural communities, as development of eco-tourism can improve welfare of the socially vulnerable groups of population. Involvement of the SPNT in such projects and responsible attitude to the natural resources of the region allow us positively influence the condition of the natural environment, which is the most important asset for development of tourism in Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, we have to admit that development of the “mild” responsible tourism is not taken seriously on the state level yet. The primary attention is given to the so called tourism “mega-projects” which are associated not only with big financial risks, but also with serious threat to the nature (on the shores of Lakes Balkhash, Alakol, and Caspian Sea, in Borovoe, etc.). The plans of development of the mountain ski resort in Ile-Alatau National Park are not exception. This causes increase in environmental and financial risks. Climate change which by now has a stable tendency, reduces skiing season in Tyan-Shan and will lead to additional pressure on the natural environment, as a result of a change of vegetation zones in the mountains.

Despite of all efforts of Kazakhstan, the country is barely known among foreign tourists. The country is visited only by 40,000 tourists annually.

Therefore, we believe that the “mild” concept of development is the most suitable one. The existing skiing infrastructure near Almaty can be improved and used more efficiently. Issuing a single “skiing passport” and setting up of a shuttle connection between the skiing resorts could raise their potential. Such concept is not risky for investors and Ile-Alatau National Park.

Therefore, we strongly urge you to reject the construction of the large mountain ski resort in Ile-Alatau National Park. We are ready to assist in the further development of the park and its nomination into the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List.
Sincerely yours,

Professor Dr. Michael Succow,
honorary president of the NABU, alternative Nobel prize-winner
(Right Livelihood Award)

Thomas Tennhardt
vice-president of the NABU, chairman of the NABU International Fund

* * *

Let us protect Kok-Jailau – one of the most popular spots in the Ile-Alatau National Park! (http://esgrs.org/?page_id=7387)

Additional Information in Russian (http://esgrs.org/?page_id=7239).

Experts Speak in Defense of Kok-Zhailau

Elena Khrustaleva,
Silver medal winner in biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, champion of the 2011 Asian Winter Games.

 

I, Elena Khrustaleva, silver medal winner in biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, champion of the 2011 Asian Winter Games, speak in defense of Kok-Zhailau and against construction of the mountain ski resort.

Kok-Zhailau is not the best place for mountain skiing resort because of several parameters. This hollow is not suitable for a professional track, because it has insufficient length and unsuitable relief. Let us recall that the ski tracks at the sports complex Chimbulak were remade to be more complicated to comply with the international standards for the 7th Winter Asian Olympics which took place in Almaty in 2011. Meanwhile, Kok-Zhailau is located at a lower altitude and has flatter slopes with snow coverage for only 2-3 months a year. This place is not suitable even for junior-level competitions, not even mention international championships. And overall, what is the need to destroy the national park, when we already have an excellent place – Chimbulak. Kok-Zhailau does not have a space for 500 km of ski tracks. I make this judgment from the point of view of a professional athlete. Obviously, after construction of the ski resort, Kok-Zhailau hollow will not be accessible for recreation of ordinary people. Right now, it is actively used by the city residents the whole year round. And this is also a reason why I am against any construction development. This is the only place where there are no cars, and where people can peacefully hike and breathe fresh air. All other places are already covered by a grid of auto roads, and the endless flow of cars leaves smoke and trash behind itself. Our President, Nursultan Abishevich said that the cable road to Chimbulak was built in order to reduce the car flow into the mountains, because our fir trees are very sensitive to the automobile exhausts. And here, we don’t have a road to Kok-Zhailau, but we will build it for the ski resort – so, how about the fir trees and other nature? We are caring about Chimbulak, while ignoring the spots nearby?!

A lot is being said about “European experience”. Currently, I am in Europe, and can say that here there are both, mountain ski resorts and areas for hiking and biking trails only. While in our country, active recreation choices are only represented by the ski tracks which are very far from being affordable by the majority of the residents, because the prices are unreasonably high. In Europe, the prices are 30-40% lower. If Kok-Zhailau is developed, then the city residents will not have anywhere to hike, breath fresh air, or have a work out. If we really want to follow European experience, we need to leave this mountain valley untouched, undeveloped and open for public hiking.

I myself often come to Kok-Zhailau, because I am in training from May to November. Firstly, it is close to the city, which means there is not need to spend a lot of time on transportation, and secondly, I like it for its fresh air, lack of cars and trash.

I personally heard the words of the President about development of mountain ski resorts. During the meeting with the athletes, at a lunch after the Asian Winter Games, it was said about development of Talgar zone. That area, indeed, has suitable slopes, and it was also said about creation of “Chamonix” over there, and that it is intended to develop specifically that region.

If we talk about pouring huge amount of people’s money – taxes – into development of sport, I can say that a better investment would be to spend this money on construction of children’s sports complexes, which we simply do not have, and there is, indeed, an urgent need to build those. We talk a lot about necessity of high sports achievements, but champions are needed to be raised somewhere, while there are no conditions in our country for that. There is no a single children’s ski track in Almaty, no children’s trampolines, no roller track, no children’s ice-skating rinks (there are only places for common and adult’s skating – and everything is far away from the city, and the skating rinks are located on the malls). We have sites for professional and large-scale sport. But we lack of outdoor facilities to train children. The 12 billion tenge would be enough to build several very good children’s sports centers within the city limits. The city grows by leaps and bounds, and an acute necessity arises for construction of sports centers in different parts of the city, where we could raise future Champions for our Country!

Experts Speak in Defense of Kok-Zhailau

Dagmar Shraiber,
Expert in ecotourism, author of two guide-books around Kazakhstan, co-author of a textbook on eco-tourism, twice “Honored Tourism Worker of the RK”.

Starting from 2008, I work in Informational and Resource Center for Ecotourism in Almaty. During these years, I was able to get to know the situation around the internal inbound tourism in Kazakhstan and the environmental conditions in the city of Almaty and the country in general. Based on the gathered information, one can be assured that construction of a mountain ski resort on Kok-Zhailau is not viable.

Tourism is not a one-sided thing; it cannot be viewed only from the point of economic profits and the amount of income to the state budget. Tourism is a complex phenomenon, which includes social, political, and ecological aspects. All of these are considered by the concept of ecotourism, or sustainable tourism.

We base our opinion on the approach that tourism must take into account interests of tourists, i.e. guests, as well as interests of a receiving party, i.e. hosts. Tourism development should never be implemented through infringing upon interests of local people and destructing their natural environment. If that happens, environmental and social balance of a region is disrupted, political tension starts growing, and even dangerous situations can occur, such as terrorist attacks or civil war, and there is a number of examples to prove it. Tourism looses its peacemaking function and is turned into “an apple of discord”.

We do not want this scenario to happen. As a foreigner, of course, I do not have a right to interfere into the internal affaires of the country, but for the past few years, the experience of the Center for Ecotourism proves that Kazakhstan needs to develop accessible tourism, first of all, for all segments of the local population, and not the tourism which can be only enjoyed by the rich and foreigners. Such “healthy development” may be guaranteed by initiating public discussion of projects which can impact the natural environment. Unfortunately, such mechanism does not exist yet. These are the social and political aspects of the question.

If we take a look on the tourism from the point of economical benefit, we will see that the project of construction of the mountain ski resort on Kok-Zhailau looks quite questionable. Existing demand on Kazakhstan’s tourism product does not allow to expect that this project will pay for itself. At the present time, the country is visited by about 40,000 foreign tourists annually, and the majority of the visits are related to business purposes. Surveys which we conducted among foreign citizens bring us to a conclusion that mountain skiing in Kazakhstan interests only a tiny minority. There are many reasons for that: visa and registration rules, high prices, unsatisfactory service, remoteness of the country, environmental pollution, extortion, bribery, etc. Relying on Chinese and Indian consumer, in my opinion, is also dubious. These countries develop that own mountain skiing territories, where skiing will be cheaper and more comfortable. Thus, there is a high chance that the project will fail because of the low demand. The budget money will be wasted. This is economical aspect of the question.

But most of all, I am concerned about ecological aspect. Worldwide experience of developing such projects, especially in Alps, shows that such large resorts have a very negative impact on environment. It all starts with tree cuts and sharp increase in erosion, and ends with excessive consumption of resources, in particular, water and energy sources, pollution of air, water reservoirs, destruction of landscapes. Developments take place primarily on untouched territories. In this case, Kok-Zhailau – is a part of a unique in all aspects Ile-Alatau National Park, native land of Sivers Apple Tree, natural habitat of snow leopard, and many other rare plants and animals, including the species registered in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. The city of Almaty suffers from the high atmospheric pollution. People who breathe Almaty air everyday realize that very well. Kok-Zhailau Hollow with its thick forest plays a very important protective role for the city. It is impermissible to turn this place into 500 km of skiing tracks.

If somebody thinks that I want to discredit a beautiful project – it is not true. Tourism in Almaty and in its vicinities needs to be developed; the President is right in this. But specifically Kok-Zhailau is not a place for a ski resort. There are plenty of good alternatives.

Let’s develop those alternatives together: from “above” and “below”, involving the immense creative potential of the tourism practitioners and the public of Kazakhstan.

Experts Speak in Defense of Kok-Zhailau

starkov_16_056Painter, architect, and alpinist, Andrey Starkov, shared his opinion about the project of construction of the mountain ski resort “Kok-Zhailau”

Cons of the project of construction of the ski resort “Kok-Zhailau”:

1. The main slopes of the plateau have a small incline (10-15 degrees) which makes them uninteresting to confident skiers.

2. The slopes are short (150-200m) for “normal” skiing (“along the slope line”).

3. The main slopes of the plateau are crossed by numerous creek beds, which are filled with melted and storm water in spring and summer season. This creates difficult hydrological conditions and will require construction of many special engineering structures (crossings, overpasses, embankments, drainage systems) in order to prevent erosion of the slopes during construction and exploitation of the roads (which translates in significant rise in cost and increase of exploitation expanses).

4. The only year-round water source is a small creek (source of Batareyka river) with a discharge rate incapable to cover all drinking and technical water needs of a large resort and hotel complex.

5. Several larger slopes, from 15 to 35 degrees (Kumbel mountain) adjoined to the plateau from the south-east, are extremely prone to avalanches, which will require additional expenses for construction of anti-avalanche systems.

6. In general, the isolated and short in length slopes do not allow creating a single connected track system serviced by 1-2 elevators. In fact, they will require construction of many separate elevators for each slope which increases capital investments and lowers profitability.

7. Building of the ski tracks will require cutting of a large number of fir trees.

8. The plateau is located at 2350 to 1800 m above sea level which leads to a fast melt down of the snow cover. At the same time, there is a lack of a sufficient water source to create a system of artificial snow production.

9. Maintenance of the mountain ski resort will require construction of miles-long engineering grids (water supply system, sewage, electrical grid), motor and service roads (increase in costs).

10. Construction of the resort will increase the pressure on the ecosystem of the mid-mountain zone, inhabited with the Red Book specimens of flora and fauna, and the most sensitive to the anthropogenic influence.

11. Quality of the mountain skiing tracks (slope relief with diagonal, slanting direction, inclinations, moist snow) will significantly yield to the existing tracks in the ski complex “Chimbulak” which will lead to “under usage of the capacity” of the complex and will result in its unprofitability.

12. Negative public opinion about construction of the large sport and tourism complex on the territory of Kok-Zhailau plateau which serves as a traditional place for hiking, contemplative and meditative recreation for thousands of Almaty residents (seniors, students).

Conclusion.

Territory of Kok-Zhailau is suitable for creation of a sport and tourism complex, primarily, for the summer season recreational activities (hiking, horse-back riding) with a small winter constituent (2-3 small mountain ski tracks on Kumbel mountain slopes).

Construction of a large mountain ski complex with significant capital investments and low profitability will require a long time for return of investments (and possibly, will never pay off) compare to other sites with a better potential for the winter recreational activities.

It is necessary to conduct an independent public assessment of the project.

Petition against construction of the “Kok-Jailau” ski resort is filed!

On January 30, a public petition against the project of construction of a new mountain ski resort “Kok-Jailau” on the territory of Ile-Alatau National Park was sent to the President, Parliament, ministries, and political parties of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The public demands to ban the construction of the mountain ski resort in Kok-Jailau, on the territory of Ile-Alatau National Park. Specifically, we are not against development of tourism in the region, we are for development of ecological tourism (which does not harm the unique ecosystems of Zailiisky Alatau), we are for development of the already existing mountain ski resorts, and we are against the situation when elite tourism develops at the expense of the public money and deprives thousands of Kazakhstan citizens from the common places of recreation!

Let us remind that Ecological Society Green Salvation began collection of signatures under the Petition in December 2011. In one month the Petition was signed by 1455 people – these are residents of Almaty and other cities of Kazakhstan and citizens of other countries of the world who know and love our country. Meanwhile, the collection of the signatures continues.

The full text of the Petition and the list of signers can be seen on the website of Ecological Society Green Salvation.

Summary of Lawsuits in 2011 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation

No. 1
Lawsuit on the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s failure to act and on
acknowledging the Senior State Sanitary Inspector’s statement
regarding reduction of the Sanitary Protection Zone (SPZ) to be invalid.

The lawsuit in the interests of Berezovka village residents (Western Kazakhstan Oblast) was filed on June 19, 2008 to the Specialized Interregional Economic Court (SIEC) of Astana City.

The lawsuit demands:

1. The government’s failure to take measures in protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, ensuring justice and safety for the residents of Berezovka village, who have had to live within the limits of Sanitary Protection Zone, shall be recognized as inaction.
2. The Government’s failure to control activity of the Ministries and other central and local executive authorities, in regards of implementation of legislation and international agreements, shall be recognized as inaction.
3. The Government’s failure to comply with its obligations by violating the provisions of the Aarhus Convention (Articles 3.2, 3.3, 3.9, 4 and 6) and the Law “On Environmental Assessment” of 1997 (Articles 13, 14, 15.1, 16 and 36) when taking decision about reduction of the SPZ, shall be recognized as inaction.
4. The Senior State Sanitary Inspector’s statement No. 07-2 dated on January 16, 2004, as an Addendum to the Draft “The Sanitary Protection Zone of the Karachaganak Oil and Gas Condensate Field” dated on December 25, 2003, shall be recognized as invalid.
5. To require the Government to resolve the issue in accordance with the legislation, to relocate the residents of the Berezovka village to a safe and healthy location, and provide them with adequate housing taking into account their opinions.
6. To require the Government to resolve the question of compensation of material and moral damage caused to the residents of Berezovka village.

At the end of 2010, Green Salvation tried to get satisfaction of the lawsuit demands by filing of a petition and cassational appeals to the Astana City Court and a petition to the Supreme Court. In accordance with the resolution of the Supreme Court, the decision of the SIEC was cancelled and, as a result of the new case hearings, the lawsuit demands were partially satisfied. Disagreeing with the decision of the court about only partial satisfaction of the demands, the Ecological Society filed a petition to the Supreme Court. On April 21, 2011, the Supreme Court denied to consider the petition. The court decision of November 11, 2010, came into force. The Ecological Society Green Salvation undertook the following actions:

On February 9, a request was sent to the SIEC of Astana, in order to clarify the location of the writs of execution on the case. The court informed that the writs were filed to the Department of Execution of the Court Acts of the Western Kazakhstan oblast. But the akimats’ (official authorities) representatives replied that they had not received them.

In this regard, on February 25, a letter was sent to the Prosecutor’s Office in Astana city and to the chairman of the SIEC of Astana city with a request to assist in the search of the writs of execution. There was a reply saying that the writs of execution were returned to the SIEC, according to their request. During a check-up of the copies of submission of the writs of execution to the SIEC, none of them was recalled or resend. An additional writ of execution for the court costs recovery was sent, in accordance with a resolution of the Appellate Board on Civic Affairs of the Astana City Court in June, 2010.

On April 19, the Department of Execution of the Court Acts of the Western Kazakhstan oblast informed that the writs of execution were sent to the bailiff of the Burlinsky territorial division of the above mentioned department. In May, during inquiry on whether or not the writs of execution were sent by the SIEC, it became clear that the court presented false information.

On August 11, a claim on the bailiff who failed to act is filed to the Burlinsky District Court of the West Kazakhstan Oblast.
On September 22, the claim on the bailiff’s failure to act is forwarded to the SIEC of the West Kazakhstan Oblast, because of determination of the Burlinsky District Court.
On November 14, the SIEC of the West Kazakhstan Oblast returned the claim to the ES because of the court’s lack of jurisdiction.

The court’s decision is not executed.

* * * 
No. 2
Lawsuit about inaction of the state authorities which lead to formation
of an illegal dumpster in Besagash village.

The lawsuit in the interests of the residents of Besagash village is filed to the Talgar City Court, Almaty oblast on November 3, 2010.

The lawsuit demands:

1. To acknowledge the failure of the defendants, in particular:
— Akimat of Almaty oblast;
— Akimat of the Talgar region of Almaty oblast;
— Akimat of the Besagash rural district of the Talgar region of Almaty oblast;
— Emergency division of the Talgar region;
— Department of the state sanitary and epidemiological control of the Talgar region;
— Regional Department of Internal Affairs of Talgar Сity –
to execute their direct responsibilities to be inaction.

2. To require the defendants to take immediate actions within the limits of their authorities, in order to recover the favorable environmental conditions for the residents of the village, in particular: to require the owner of the land plot and boiler house, chairman of the cooperative “Luch Vostoka”, to liquidate the garbage dumpster by demolition of the former boiler house building.

On December 22, 2010, a private claim was filed to the Almaty Oblast Court in relation to the Talgar City Court refusal to accept the lawsuit.
On January 21, 2011, the claim was heard in the Almaty Oblast Court in the City of Taldykorgan. The court obliged the Talgar City Court to consider the case in the essence.
During the period from February to April, six court hearings took place.
On May 3, the court made a decision to partially satisfy the demands. The decision acknowledged the fact of inaction of the Akim (governor) of the Besagash rural district of the Talgar region. But the judge did not oblige the defendants to liquidate the illegal dumpster.
On May 23, a claim was filed to the Appellate Board on Civic Affairs of the Almaty Oblast Court demanding to satisfy all lawsuit demands and oblige the defendant to liquidate the dumpster.
On Jul 29, the Board reviewed the claim and left the court decision without alteration.
On August 15, a petition is filed to the Supreme Court.
On October 20, at the preliminary hearing of the case, the Review Board of the Supreme Court refused to satisfy the petition.
On November 11, a letter with a request to issue an objection on the decision of the Supreme Court is filed to the General’s Prosecutor’s Office.
On December 21, the General Prosecutor’s Office did not find reasons for issuing an objection.

The case is partially won. But as a result of the half-hearted decision of the court, the illegal dumpster is not liquidated and the law offenders are not punished.

* * * 
No. 3
Lawsuit about acknowledgment of a legal act – “Rules of conducting of public hearings” –
to be contradictory to the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan
and the international agreement – Aarhus Convention.

The lawsuit in the interests of an undetermined group of people is filed on February 2, 2011, to the Specialized Interregional Economic Court of the Astana Сity.

The lawsuit demands:

1. To acknowledge the “Rules of conducting of public hearings” adopted on May 7, 2007, by an order of the Minister of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan No.135-p, to be contradictory to the requirements of the Aarhus Convention, Environmental Code, and the Law “About Normative Legal Acts”, i.e. to be invalid in the full volume.

2. To require the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan to cancel the registration of the “Rules of Conducting of Public Hearings”.

On February 11, the SIEC made a decision to leave the lawsuit without a movement, because supposedly, it had been filed incorrectly. The deadline for correction of the mistakes was set as February 21. But the notification was sent by the court only on February 17, and was received by the Ecological Society on February 21.

Despite of this fact, on February 22, the SIEC made a determination to return the lawsuit to the claimants.
On March 9, based on an appeal of the Ecological Society, the Astana City Court re-set the deadline for appealing of the SIEC’s decision about returning of the lawsuit.
On April 2, the case was filed again to the SIEC of Astana, in order to speed up the process of its consideration.
On April 29, the SIEC returned the lawsuit again explaining that the paperwork had been, supposedly, filed incorrectly.
On August 15, the lawsuit is filed to the SIEC of Astana for the third time.
On September 12, the SIEC made a determination about returning of the lawsuit because the paperwork had been, supposedly, filed incorrectly.
On September 26, a private claim on the determination of the SIEC is filed to the court of the city of Astana.
On November 23, the court of the city of Astana refused to satisfy the private claim.
On December 14, a petition is sent to the Supreme Court.
On December 26, the Supreme Court left the petition without a review.
On January 18, 2012, another petition is sent to the Supreme Court.

The case remains open.

* * * 
No. 4
Lawsuit about failure of the Ministry of Environmental Protection to provide environmental information –
the National Report about compliance with the Aarhus Convention and its discussion materials.

The lawsuit is filed to the SIEC of Astana city on February 15, 2011.

Demands:

1. To acknowledge the actions of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, which did not provide information to the Ecological Society Green Salvation, to be inaction, which violates the rights and lawful interests of the juridical person.

2. To require the MEP to provide the Ecological Society Green Salvation with the information, in particular:
— how was the report discussed with the public;
— where and when did “round tables” take place;
— what kind of comments were received from the public;
— how were they considered;
— when was the report sent to the Secretariat of the Convention;
— where could one get acquainted with the final version of the report?

In March-April, several court hearings took place.
On April 25, the court made a judgment by default and satisfied the demands of the Ecological Society Green Salvation.
The judgment came into force, the Ministry provided the information.

The court’s decision was executed only partially, as the state duty was not reimbursed.

* * * 
No. 5
Lawsuit about failure of the Akim of Almaty City to provide information about
relocation of the people from the sanitary and protection zone of the enterprise “Tsentrbeton” Ltd.

The lawsuit in the interests of the residents of the city of Almaty is filed to the Court No.2 of Bostandykski District of Almaty City on March 1, 2011.

Demands:

1. To acknowledge the actions of the Akim of Almaty City, who did not reply in the essence to the request sent to him on December 22, 2010, to be inaction which violates the rights and lawful interests of the citizens.

2. To require the Akim of Almaty City to reply in the essence of the request, i.e. about the solution of the issue of relocation from the sanitary and protection zone of the “Tsentrbeton” Ltd.

In March-April, several court hearings took place.
On April 21, the court refused to satisfy the lawsuit demands.
On April 26, an appeal is files to the Appellate Board on Civic Affairs of the Almaty City Court.
On May 24, the appeal was not satisfied.
On August 17, a petition is sent to the Supreme Court.
On November 17, at the preliminary hearing of the case, the Review Board of the Supreme Court refused to satisfy the petition.
On December 7, a letter with a request to issue an objection on the decision of the Supreme Court is sent to the General Prosecutor’s Office.

The case remains open.

* * * 
No.6
Lawsuit about inaction of the organs of public administration,
which caused formation of an illegal dump site in Panfilov village, Talgar District, Almaty Oblast.

The lawsuit in the interests of the residents of Panfilov village is filed on September 16, 2011, to the Court of the city of Talgar.

Lawsuit demands:

1. To acknowledge the failure of the defendants – Akimat of the village and other authorized state organs – to fulfill their direct responsibilities in providing environmental and sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the residents of Panfilov village to be illegal, i.e. inaction.
2. To require the defendants to take immediate actions, in order to liquidate the dump site, demolish the abandoned buildings, and bring the land sites into a proper condition, in accordance with the legislation.

On September 21, the court made a statement to leave the case without a motion.
On September 29, a reply to the statement and a letter to the chairman of the court were filed.
On October 25, the court made a determination to leave the case without a motion.
On November 2, a reply to the determination of the court is filed.
On November 7, the court made a decision to return the case.
On December 21, a private complaint is filed to the Almaty Oblast Court.

The case remains open.

* * * 
No.7
Lawsuit about inaction of the Akim of the city of Almaty,
which caused discrimination of citizens residing on Bokeykhanov street, Almaty.

The lawsuit in the interests of the residents of Almaty is filed to the Court of Bostandyk Distroct of the city of Almaty on November 23, 2011.

Lawsuit demands:

1. To acknowledge the failure of the Akim of Almaty to carry out his professional responsibilities, and also his failure to comply with the national and international agreements, which has lead to discrimination by a place of residence of the citizens living on Bokeykhanov street, city of Almaty, to be inaction.
2. To acknowledge the lack of control allowed by the Akim of the city of Almaty over the authorized organs who violated the national legislation which prohibits people from living in sanitary and protection zones of enterprises, in particular, the residents of Bokaykhanov street, Almaty, to be illegal inaction.
3. Following the paragraph 1 of the Article 282 of the CPC, to require Akim of the city of Almaty to liquidate the violations of the legislation in respect of the residents of Bokeykhanov street by their resettlement from the sanitary and protection zone and providing them with adequate dwelling, in accordance with the current legislation.

On November 25, the court made a determination about leaving the case without any further consideration.
On December 9, the court made a determination about returning the case.
On December 28, a private complaint on determination of the Bostandyk District Court is submitted to the Almaty City Court.

The case remains open.

 

Rights and legal interests of the Ecological Society “Green Salvation” are defended in court by lawyer Svetlana Philippovna Katorcha.

Translated by Sofya Tairova.

 

 
Summary of Lawsuits in 2017 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2016 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2015 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2014 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2013 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2012 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2011 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2010 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2009 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2008 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2007 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation

HUMAN RIGHTS OR “BRIGHT” NUCLEAR FUTURE? IT IS YOUR CHOICE!

ANTINUCLEAR CAMPAIGN
—————————————

From the legal point of view, Kazakhstan is not ready for construction of an atomic power station (APS).

1. Environmental policy is still not developed in Kazakhstan. There is not an effective policy for energy efficiency, nor a program for alternative energy development, nor economic incentives for development and implementation of the latest technologies. The measures undertaken by the government target to solve only the most urgent issues.

Right on a favorable environment is not even mentioned in the Constitution of the country. Article 26 of the expired Constitution of 1993 said: “Citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan has a right on a healthy and favorable for life natural environment.” But this statement was not included in the current Constitution of 1995. In the latter, it is only said that “the government sets itself a goal to protect the environment favorable to life and health of a human” (article 31). Not guarantees, but “sets a goal”, which does not imply acknowledgement of the right on favorable environment.

The Aarhus Convention indicates, “that every person has the right to live in an environment adequate to his or her health and well-being” and “that adequate protection of the environment is essential to human well-being and to the enjoyment of basic human rights, including the right to life itself.” Despite of the fact that the Convention was ratified by Kazakhstan, the country ignores its requirements, which was acknowledged for the third time in the decision of the Forth Meeting of the Parties of the Aarhus Convention in July 2011.

2. Lack of environmental policy reflects on all aspects of life, and first of all, on the quality of the legislation.

Degradation of the environmental legislation continues. Thousands of amendments which are introduced every year make it non-functional which was noted back in 2001 by the Constitutional Council1. More and more contradictions appear in the legislation.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has to acknowledge this fact. Authors of the Second National Report on Compliance with the Aarhus Convention indicate that the legislation contains a large amount of mistakes and inaccuracies. But they present it as a favorable aspect for the public. They state that “the gaps and contradictions in the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan discovered during preparation of the National Report may serve as a good basis for public participation in the law-making process, in accordance with the article 8 of the Aarhus Convention.”2

On June 8, 2011, at the plenary session of the majilis of the Parliament of the RK, the Minister of Environmental Protection of Kazakhstan, Nurgali Ashim, stated: “For the last five years, despite of numerous gross violations of the environmental legislation, none of the responsible persons were made criminally liable for their actions. Inaccuracy of the legislation allows the criminals to avoid the punishment.”3

3. Bad quality of the legislation is aggravated by incompliance of the laws and neglect of the international agreements by the state authorities and private corporations.

For example, in 2002, in violation of the law, a high voltage power line (110kV) was built in the micro-district Gorniy Gigant, Almaty. In 2008, despite of violation of the law, a hydro-power station Issyk was built on the territory of the Ile-Alatau national park. In 2009, thanks to public intervention, it became possible to alter a project of construction of a high-voltage power line (220kV) passing through the territories of two national parks and to approve a project which does not violate the parks’ territorial integrity. From the early 2011, a high-voltage power line (110kV) is being built in the city of Pavlodar with violations of the law.

All the documents needed for construction of the facilities described above were approved by the state authorities with violations of the current legislation.

Why does it happen? Because it is profitable and safe to violate the law!

4. As a result of a lack of environmental policy, poor quality legislation, incompliance of the laws and corruption, the state authorities lose their ability to control environmental situation.

This is confirmed by numerous facts of environmental law violations, failure to execute court decisions, failure to comply with the international agreements.

Corruption affected the state authorities so much that they lose the ability to maintain their functions. In the report of the U.S. Department of State (2010) about the situation with human rights in Kazakhstan it is said: “The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption; however, the government did not implement the law effectively… Corruption was widespread in the executive branch, various law enforcement agencies, local government administrations, the education system, and the judiciary.”4

In the report “Avenues for Improved Response to Environmental Offences in Kazakhstan,” published by the Organization for Economic Collaboration and Development (OECD) in 2009, it is stated: “…Poorly orchestrated decentralisation creates the danger of institutional over-fragmentation and inconsistency, as well as raises concerns over the capacity of sub-national bodies to undertake roles given to them.”5

In these conditions, the state authorities cannot control construction of an APS!

So, who gets the most benefits from the construction of the APS? May be those who made Kazakhstan the world’s number one extractor of uranium? Or those who wish again, as in 2000, to turn Kazakhstan into a nuclear dumpster?

What can be expected from the construction of the APS? Occurring threats of accidents at the APS, environmental pollution by radioactive waste, increase in the sickness rate of the population, gross violations of the human rights.

Do we need such a “bright” future?
____________________________________
1. This was indicated in the Message of the Constitutional Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan “About the current state of the constitutional legality in the republic” dated on March 24, 2001: “… The current legislation does not always develop systematically, the link between its different sectors is violated, stability of the laws is not guaranteed. Many problems related to the quality of the laws have been accumulated: contradiction of the norms, unjustified frequent introduction of changes, adoption of secondary, not the most urgent laws, legal procrastination, faults in the juridical technique.”
2. Second National Report on Compliance with the Aarhus Convention. – Ministry of Environmental Protection, 2011, p.3.
3. http://www.kt.kz/?lang=rus&uin=1133168098&chapter=1153539632.
4. 2010 Human Rights Report: Kazakhstan, U.S. Department of State, April 8, 2011, p.25; http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/sca/154481.htm.
5. Avenues for Improved Response to Environmental Offences in Kazakhstan. – OECD, 2009, p.20, http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/2/20/42072582.pdf.

The Danger of Renting National Parks

This material prepared for the Ecological Society Green Salvation.

Sierra Perez-Sparks
is a Masters student at Harvard University
and studies democratization, social movements and food politics.
She is especially interested in urban bias within post-Soviet states.
Ms. Perez-Sparks also translates news for the website WatchingAmerica.com.

platnayaIMG_3630In April 2011, head of the Kazakhstani Department of Regulation and Control of Forestry and Protected Areas Kairat Ustemirov announced that the government would lease national parklands for 49 years, primarily for the development of eco-tourism and related infrastructural needs (1). No doubt eager businessmen looking to capitalize on Kazakhstan’s mountainous regions and a government in times of global economic hardship welcome developments of this ilk, and indeed Mr. Ustemirov stated that a number of projects already were underway. However, how the leasing of these lands will impact Kazakhs today and in future decades constitutes a completely different matter. While it is uncertain that the people would even see the revenue from leased lands, it is even more uncertain what unintended ramifications the populace and local eco-systems would encounter as a result of development. Moreover, these concerns say nothing about the tremendous threat that accompanies any sale of public land to the privatized, for-profit sector—the threat against the social fabric.

playnaya_IMG_3632To understand how privatizing the environment endangers the strength and robustness of a people, one must first agree that the value of nature exceeds its weight in gold. Yet, it is easiest to place value on the environment when we consider it in terms of natural resources. The markets straightforwardly monetized, for example, the 421,700 metric tons of copper extracted from Kazakhstan’s deposits in 2008 (2). Recently the China Development Bank signed a memorandum of understanding that added $1.5 billion to its existing $2.7 billion loan to Kazakhmys, a natural resources group, for the development of major copper projects in Kazakhstan (3). Although one rarely associates smartphones, for which copper is used to construct its circuitry, with desert eco-systems and rupestrian whirlpools, nature indeed provides the raw materials necessary to construct such a feat of human ingenuity.

Beyond the strictest definition of natural resources, one quite simply can calculate the value of nature based on various forms of outdoor entertainment. Sport hunting, snowmobiling and skiing are just a few of the popular activities that relocate the human from the urban environment to a liminal setting where industry meets the natural order. In Colorado, the number one ski destination in the United States, the skiing industry generates an estimated $2 billion of revenue each year (4). For many Coloradans, global warming threatens one’s livelihood in addition to one’s surroundings because, as countries the world over keenly understand, a thriving eco-tourism sector supplies a critical stream of revenue. It is hard to fault a properly managed eco-tourism business, i.e. when eco-tourism is in actuality eco-friendly, and it perhaps strikes the happiest medium between the profit from and preservation of nature. Sustainable interaction with the environment simultaneously pleases man on two levels, satisfying his commercial desires and soothing his spiritual concern for his surroundings. Certainly not all projects achieve this balance. For example, Almaty’s Kok Tobe, a commercialized mountaintop park, features an impressive vista of the city and the Tien Shan mountains in addition to an appalling zoological garden. The management of Kok Tobe unwisely pairs the caged animals with descriptive placards that only seem to accentuate the unnaturalness of the animals’ habitat and diet. Far too often, as seen in this particular example, eco-tourism values nature primarily in terms of dollars and cents, and prioritizes the consumer over the inheritance of the public.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe inheritance of the public is our Earth; it is our environment and our commons. These spaces are a “living legacy”—a cultural resource that pays political, ecological and emotional dividends (5). In its Cultural Resource Management Guide, the U.S. National Park Service identifies cultural resources as a “unique medium” that has “the ability to connect one generation to another…an inherent capacity to mold and reinforce our identities as social creatures” (6). One observes the manifestation of this social connection in the footsteps that have trodden the Appalachian Trail over the course of nearly a century, or in the unobstructed forest pathways that have been cleared by an Almaty mountain man after a heavy storm. Ancestors and descendants alike can appreciate the same slopes and ravines. Freely accessible public space strengthens the social fabric, not only by passing down a shared cultural identity from generation to generation, but also by providing the opportunity for people to interact independently outside the realm of controlling forces such as economic markets or particular administrations. In this way one appraises a truly precious and renewable natural resource, nature’s buttress against social frailty. Conversely, the absence of this buttress engenders a displaced public insofar as privatizing public lands effectively evicts people from their inherited lands.

platnaya_kom_0443Protecting public lands merits the attention of each and every citizen, especially because those who ostensibly steward the inheritance of the public frequently squander it. History and current practice demonstrate that governments too often cede public lands. And once the land departs from the public trust, the public becomes weaker—an especially undesirable consequence for democracies. However, there are instances of the public reacquiring lost lands and in this we can see greater returns over a longer period of time than in the initial sale of the land. One such example is the White Mountain National Forest. In 1867, New Hampshire Governor Harriman sold the region primarily to logging companies, which in turn disastrously mismanaged the land so that within the course of a few decades the “resounding [public] outcry” spurred the government to action (7). In 1911, the U.S. Congress passed the Weeks Act, which authorized the use of federal funding to purchase forestland for the purpose of conserving it, and in 1914 the U.S. government began to buy back the White Mountains. Now, the White Mountain National Forest spans nearly 800,000 acres, attracts approximately 7 million domestic and international visitors a year, and constitutes one of New England’s richest natural resources (8). Of course, such a happy ending cannot be guaranteed for all formerly public lands, and one simply wonders about the future of Kazakhstan’s national parks, which are now being leased for 49 years. Will the lands be mismanaged? And will this spread the desertification of Kazakhstan to the verdancy of the collective?

As Kazakhstan pushes into the future, developing its many different kinds of resources, the country can decide which type of natural resource to prioritize. Unfortunately, the dazzling process of converting nature into money limits one’s understanding of its resources, and in consequence one tragically ignores an invaluable source of wealth. Though the temptation of riches is great, the advantages of building a vibrant democracy are greater.

August, 2011

——————————

1. “Национальные парки Казахстана сдадут в аренду на 49 лет.” Актау–Бизнес. 21 April 2011. http://www.aktau-business.com/2011/04/21/parki.html (10 July 2011).
2. Levine, Richard, and Wallace, Glenn. “Countries of the Baltic, the Caucasus, the Central Asia and the Eurasia Regions.” 2008 Minerals Yearbook. December 2010. http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2008/myb3-2008-aj-am-bo-en-gg-kg-kz-lg-lh-md-rs-ti-tx-uz.pdf (15 July 2011).
3. “Kazakhmys signs MoU to get funding for copper project in Kazakhstan.” Energy Business Review. 14 June 2011. http://mineralsandmaterials.energy-business-review.com/news/kazakhmys-signs-mou-to-get-funding-for-copper-project-in-kazakhstan-140611 (26 July 2011).
4. Irani, Daraius, Ross, Kim, Ruth, Matthias, et al. “Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Colorado.” July 2008. http://www.cier.umd.edu/climateadaptation/Colorado%20Economic%20Impacts%20of%20Climate%20Change.pdf (15 July 2011).
5. “National Park Service-28: Cultural Resource Management Guideline.” August 2001. http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/nps28/28chap1.htm (20 June 2011).
6. Ibid.
7. “History of the White Mountain.” http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/about/history/index.php (10 July 2011).
8. Ibid.

Here is how the national report was prepared

In summer 2011, the Forth Meeting of the Parties of the Aarhus Convention will take place in the city of Kishinev (Republic of Moldova). The Parties prepared reports about their compliance with the Convention to be presented during the Meeting. From our opinion, the document prepared by the Republic of Kazakhstan does not reflect some important aspects. Moreover, the document does not answer many questions which needed to be covered, in accordance with the reporting requirements of the organs of the Convention.

The report was prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) which used its own data and materials from a number of governmental bodies and some non-governmental organizations. In accordance with the recommendations of the Aarhus Convention’s Compliance Committee, the report preparation shall involve public at its very early stages, in order to establish an effective participation in the process.

The Committee offered a schedule for the report preparation. It stipulated that the consultations on the report content shall be held in July-August; preparation of the first draft – August-September; discussion of the draft for 30-60 days from September till beginning of November; preparation of the final version of the report from the beginning of November till beginning of December 2010 . On December 8, 2010, the final version of the report had to be submitted to the Secretariat of the Convention and presented to the public.

But the Ministry violated the schedule. No consultations on the report content were held. The draft report was published for an open public discussion on the web-sites of the Aarhus Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Environmental Protection   on October 28 and November 3, 2010, respectively.  The document was published in an unfinished version, some of the sections were missing or were incomplete.

All of this significantly lowered the opportunity for an effective public participation, thus, the open-wide discussion of the report did not take place. On November 5, 2010, in his interview to the “Caravan” newspaper , vice-minister of the Environmental Protection M.Turmagambetov replied to the question on preparation of the national report: “Anyone willing to express their opinion regarding any arguable points related to the environmental protection will be given such an opportunity during the consultations and “round tables” with the public and non-governmental organizations which will be conducted for a month in Kazakhstan.”

So, how was the draft report discussed? On November 4, 2010, in the office of the Aarhus Convention in the city of Atyrau, a discussion was held with the representatives of the West Kazakhstan non-profit organizations: G.Chernova, M.Khakimov, A.Shakhnazaryan, N.Ivaskevich. Resident of the city of Almaty, A.Tonkobayeva, prepared her personal comments. Ecological society Green Salvation sent its brief comments to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and to the Aarhus Center. Practically, the discussion ended up on it, which later was confirmed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection .

Because of the violation of the report preparation schedule, there was only a single and final version of the document presented, which probably, explains why the public was so passive. Any comments had to be submitted to the Ministry before November 19. People had only 22 days to get acquainted with the document and to write their comments on it, while the report was more than 50 pages long. The passiveness was also partially explained by mistrust to the governmental authorities who grossly violate the provisions of the Aarhus Convention, and unclear position of the Convention’s organs towards the country which does not follow the requirements of the international agreement.

Official statements about discussion of the draft report were not published. The report was submitted to the Secretariat, and it was unclear how the public comments were considered, as the final version of the document was neither published in January, nor in February 2011.

In this situation, Green Salvation had to make an inquiry to the MEP with a request to provide the final version of the report and information about results of its discussion. No answer followed, therefore, the Ecological Society had to address to a court.

In the beginning of March 2011, a civil lawsuit was initiated. On March 28, we finally received the text of the report and answer to our request from the MEP signed by the vice-minister of the environmental protection M.Turmagambetov. He confirmed that an open-wide discussion of the document did not take place .

Approximately in the same time, the report was published on the MEP web-site. In the final version of the report, despite of the requirement to include description of how the consultations with the public were held, such information is missing. According to the Aarhus Center, there are more than 200 environmental organizations in Kazakhstan. So, how do the Convention’s organs know which of those organizations and how they participate in the report preparation?

One more important aspect. Kazakhstan needs to prepare a special report on execution of the decision III/6c of the Third Meeting of the Parties “Compliance by Kazakhstan with its Obligations under the Convention”  to the Forth Meeting of the Parties. But the official organs do not say anything about it, and it is unknown if this document has been prepared or not.

——————————-

1. Guidance on Reporting Requirements:
http://www.unece.org/env/documents/2007/pp/ece_mp_pp_wg_1_2007_L_4_e.pdf;
http://www.unece.org/env/pp/Reports.htm.
2. http://www.eco.gov.kz;    http://www.aarhus.kz.
3. Caravan // «There is no money for clean air», №. 45, November 5, 2010: http://www.caravan.kz/article/7369.
4. Letter of the MEP dated on March 18, 2011 № 03-02-12/563-и.
5. Same as above.
6. Adopted at the Third Meeting of the Parties held in Riga on 11-13 June 2008, http://www.unece.org/env/pp/mop3/mop3.doc.htm.

Cement democracy, or a story of KSMK-3

The enterprise “Tsentrbeton Ltd.” (old name is KSMK-3) which specializes on storage and distribution of cement and coal, production of concrete and claydite-concrete, started its activity in 1998 in an immediate proximity of the residential houses located on Bokeykhanov street (Almaty, Kazakhstan). The nearest land lots turned out to be located within the sanitary and protection zone of the enterprise. The local residents were deprived from the normal conditions necessary for life and rest. Their houses and yards are constantly being covered by dust. The cement dust enters the soil and damages their home garden plants.

For many years, the people are seeking to be resettled from the sanitary and protection zone of the enterprise. But both, the public authorities and the enterprise owners, ignore their claims. In 2000, the people addressed a court, but were not able to find justice.

In 2004, Mrs. Gatina L., Mr. Gatin A., and Mrs. Konyshkova L. addressed the Aarhus Convention’s Compliance Committee with a statement that the Republic of Kazakhstan does not comply with the requirements of the article 9 about access to justice.

In 2005, the Committee examined the statement. It was admitted that Kazakhstan did not provide effective measures of legal protection in the process of consideration of the Gatins lawsuit. Public authorities did not provide a compliance with the environmental legislation. In their turn, the courts did not inform the parties about the time and place of the hearings in a proper way, nor did they inform about the decisions made. All the above mentioned is “a failure to comply with the requirements of the provision 4 of the article 9, and provision 3 of the article 9 of the convention”.

But even after the Committee’s decision, no corrections were made by the authorities. Meanwhile, the “Tsentrobeton Ltd.” continued to increase its production volumes. Annual freight turn-over is confirmed by the conclusions of the state environmental assessments:
in 2000: cement – 6,000 ton, coal – 2,000 ton,
in 2003: cement – 52,650 ton, coal – 48,400 ton,
in 2004: cement – 62 562 ton, coal – 48 400 ton.
And in 2007: cement – 317 360 ton.

In 2008, the residents addressed the court again. Their lawsuit contained the following demands:

— to recognize as invalid the conclusion of the state environmental assessment dated on February 27, 2007, conducted by the Almaty City Territorial Department of Environmental Protection;

— to require the Akimat of the city of Almaty to suspend the economic activity of “Tsentrbeton Ltd.” until its site facilities are in a full compliance with the requirements of the legislation.

On February 11, 2009, the court made a decision about recognition of the conclusions of the state environmental assessment to be invalid and obliged the public authorities to suspend the economic activity of the enterprise.

The defenders appealed against the court decision, but the people are determined to continue the fight for their rights.

 

September 14, 2010.

Translated by Tairova Sofya

Summary of Lawsuits in 2010 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation

1. Lawsuit on the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s failure to act and on
acknowledging the Senior Sanitary Inspector’s statement regarding reduction
of the Sanitary Protection Zone (SPZ) to be invalid.

The lawsuit in the interests of Berezovka village residents (Western Kazakhstan Oblast) was filed on June 19, 2008 to the Specialized Inter-regional Economic Court (SIEC) of Astana city. The lawsuit was filed jointly with the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law and the Nationwide Public Organization “Shanyrak”.

The lawsuit demands:

1. The government’s failure to take measures in protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, ensuring justice and safety for the residents of Berezovka village, who have had to live within the limits of Sanitary Protection Zone (SPZ), shall be recognized as inaction.

2. The Government’s failure to control activity of the Ministries and other central and local executive authorities, in regards of implementation of legislation and international agreements, shall be recognized as inaction.

3. The Government’s failure to comply with its obligations by violating the provisions of the Aarhus Convention (Articles 3.2, 3.3, 3.9, 4 and 6) and the Law “On Environmental Assessment” of 1997 (Articles 13, 14, 15.1, 16 and 36) when taking decision about reduction of the SPZ, shall be recognized as inaction.

4. The Senior Sanitary Inspector’s statement #07-2 dated on January 16, 2004, as an Addendum to the Draft “The Sanitary Protection Zone of the Karachaganak Oil and Gas Condensate Field” dated on December 25, 2003, shall be recognized as invalid.

5. To require the Government to resolve the issue in accordance with the legislation, to relocate the residents of the Berezovka village to a safe and healthy location, and provide them with adequate housing taking into account their opinions.

6. To require the Government to resolve the question of compensation of material and moral damage caused to the residents of Berezovka village.

On December 23, 2009, the Supreme Court considered the claim for review and satisfied all points. The case is sent for re-view to the same court.
On January 13, 2010, the SIEC of Astana made a decision to prepare for the court hearings.
On February 18 and March 5, the court hearings took place. The court made a decision to involve the third parties to participate in the court proceedings.
On April 30, the Specialized Inter-regional Economic Court of Astana city held on-site court hearings in Berezovka village, West-Kazakhstan oblast.
On June 1, the court made a decision about re-settlement of only those people who reside within the 5 km-sanitary protection zone. The rest of the claimants’ demands were not satisfied.
On July 14, an appeal was sent to the Astana City Court.
On September 15, the Appellate Board reviewed the appeal and left the SIEC’s decision without a change.
On October 11, a cassational appeal was sent to the Astana City Court. On November 11, the court reviewed the appeal and denied to satisfy the claims.

The case remains open.

* * *
2. Lawsuit to Recognize as Invalid the Conclusions of the State Environmental Assessment,
and to Suspend the Activities of “Tsentrbeton Ltd”.

The lawsuit in the interests of Almaty city residents was filed to the Court No.2 of the Bostandyksky District of Almaty City on October 31, 2008.

The lawsuit demands:

1. To recognize the conclusion of the state environmental assessment #03-08-543 dated on Februrary 27, 2007, conducted by the Almaty City Territorial Department of Environmental Protection (present “Balkhash-Alakolsky Ecology Department of the Committee for Ecological Regulation and Control”), to be invalid.

2. To require the Akimat of the city of Almaty to suspend the activity of “Tsentrbeton Ltd.” until its production facilities are in a full compliance with the requirements of the Environmental Code of Republic of Kazakhstan.

On December 9, 2009, a petition of appeal was filed to the civil affaires board of the Almaty City Court.
On January 14, 2010, the board refused to satisfy the petition of appeal.
On March 10th, an appeal is filed to the cassation board of the Almaty City Court.
On March 30th, the board of the Almaty City Court returned the appeal explaining that it did not satisfy the new norms of the Civil Procedural Code.
On April 6, a petition was filed to the Supreme Court.
On May 13, the Supreme Court sent the petition for review to the Almaty City Court. On June 17, the Court reviewed the cassational appeal and denied in its satisfaction.
On July 7, a new petition was filed to the Supreme Court.

On September 16, at the preliminary consideration of the petition, the Supreme Court Board denied to initiate review proceedings.

* * *

3. Lawsuit about the Ministry of Public Health’s refusal to provide information.

The lawsuit in the interests of Berezovka village residents was filed to the Essil District Court #2 of Astana City on June 26, 2009.

The lawsuit demands:

1. To acknowledge the refusal of the Ministry of Public Health and Committee of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Ministry of Health to provide information, in particular, a report on “Evaluation of health conditions of the people living in the area of Karachaganak oil and gas condensate deposit”, to be inaction violating the rights and lawful interests of a legal person.

2. To require the Ministry of Public Health to provide the Ecological Society Green Salvation with the information requested.

3. To exact the court legal costs from the Committee of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Ministry of Public Health.

On December 9, 2009, a petition of appeal was considered by the City Court of Astana. The Court refused to satisfy the petition.
On January 6, 2010, a petition was sent to the Supreme Court.

On March 4, during preliminary court hearings, the Review Board of the Supreme Court refused to initiate review proceedings.

* * * 

4. Lawsuit on inadequate information about situation in the water protection strip
of Yesentai River (city of Almaty) provided by the public authorities.

The lawsuit in protection of interests of Almaty city residents was filed on September 3d, 2009, to the SIEC of Almaty.

The lawsuit demands:

1. To acknowledge that the information provided to the Ecological Society Green Salvation by the Almaty Department of mobilization, civil defense, emergency prevention and response, Almaty Department of Public Health, Department of natural resources and regulation of natural resources utilization, Medeuskiy Akimat, Almaty City Territorial Department of Environmental Protection, Balkhash-Alakolsky Ecology Department of the Committee for Ecological Regulation and Control, represented in a form of an act dated on May 28, 2007, to be inadequate.

2. To make a special court ruling to the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan, minister of health, and minister of emergency response on provision of inadequate environmental information by the governmental bodies within their jurisdiction which violates the code of honor of a governmental employee.

On December 15, 2009, the case’s court jurisdiction was approved and the case was filed to the SIEC of Almaty.
On January 25, 2010, the judge returned the case using the same explanation – “not under the court’s jurisdiction”.
On February 10, the case was submitted again to the SIEC to another judge.
On February 19, the judge determined that the case shall be returned because it is “not in jurisdiction” of the SIEC.
On March 16, in order to start the case trial procedures, the Ecological Society addressed the Head of the Almaty City Court and to the Head of the SIEC.
On April 5, the Ecological Society received a reply from the Appellate Board on Civic Affairs of the Almaty City Court suggesting to make an appeal against the determination of the judge.
On April 6, the case was re-filed to the Appellate Board on Civic Affairs of the Almaty City Court.
On June 24, the court denied to satisfy the lawsuit demands.
On July 13, an appeal was filed to the Almaty City Court.
On August 17, the court reviewed the appeal and denied in its satisfaction.
On September 1, a cassational appeal was sent to the Almaty City Court.
On October 7, the court reviewed the appeal and denied in its satisfaction.
On October 27, a petition was filed to the Supreme Court.

The case remains open.

* * *

5. Lawsuit about cancellation of decisions, conclusions, and endorsements related to the project of construction
of a module veterinary laboratory (city of Almaty).

The lawsuit in protection of the lawful interests of Almaty city residents was filed on October 16, 2009, to the Medeu District Court of Almaty.

The lawsuit demands:

1. To cancel the permission of the Almaty Department of the State Architectural and Civil Engineering Control dated on August 14, 2009, under #224 allowing the construction works.

2. To cancel the permission given by the Almaty Department of natural resources and regulation of natural resources utilization, under #03-20-586 dated on June15, 2009.

3. To cancel the work order signed by the Almaty Department of the State Architectural and Civil Engineering Control under #018 dated on June 25, 2009, for opening of a foundation pit and removal of the soil.

4. To cancel the endorsement signed by the Department of Committee of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the city of Almaty #011 dated on 30.01.2008.

5. To cancel the endorsement of the Committee of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Ministry of Public Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan #07-12-1730 dated on December 19, 2007.

6. To cancel the conclusion of the State Ecological Expertise of the Almaty Department of natural resources and regulation of natural resources utilization #04-08-280 dated on December 29, 2007, and the permission on emission into the environment dated on July 15, 2009, under #0000184, series А-07, as being illegitimate endorsements of the construction project of the module veterinary laboratory of the State Utility Enterprise “State Veterinary Laboratory” which lead to violation of the lawful interests of the district residents.

7. To acknowledge as illegitimate and invalid the project of construction of the module veterinary laboratory which realization lead to the violation of rights and lawful interests of the district residents.

8. To prohibit the placement, construction, and start-up works for the module veterinary laboratory performed with a violation of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On December 28, 2009, a preliminary case consideration took place in the Medeu District Court.
During January and February of 2010, five court hearings took place.
On February 16, the court denied satisfying the lawsuit demands.
On February 25, a claim was filed to the Appellate Board on Civic Affairs of the Almaty City Court.
On April 27, the Board denied to satisfy the claim.
On May 24, a claim was filed to the cassation board on Civic Affaires of the Almaty City Court.
On July 24, a petition was filed to the Supreme Court.
On September 16, at the preliminary consideration of the petition, the Supreme Court Board denied to initiate review proceedings.

The case remains open.

* * * 

6. Lawsuit about inaction of a governmental authority –
Committee of Court Administration under the Supreme Court.

The lawsuit was submitted in the interests of the residents of the city of Almaty on November 10, 2009, to the Essil District Court #2 of the city of Astana.

The lawsuit demands:

1. To recognize the failure of the Committee of Court Administration under the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan to comply with its obligations and provide a timely realization of executive documents by the Court Administrator of the city of Almaty on execution of SIEC’s decisions dated on September 10, 2007, and October 21, 2008, to be an illegal action (inaction). On September 10, 2007, the court made a decision about liquidation of the illegal dump near Chimbulak health resort.

2. To require the Committee of Court Administration under the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan to undertake legal measures to force the Court Administrator of the city of Almaty to start immediate implementation of the SIEC’s decisions indicated above.

On November 23, a special claim regarding the decision of a judge of the Essil District Court of the city of Astana was submitted to the City Court of Astana.
On December 15, 2009, the City Court of Astana determined the case’s court jurisdiction. The case was filed to the SIEC of Astana.
On January 25, 2010, a request regarding the court’s delay in filing the case was directed to the City Court of Astana.
On February 4, the case was filed to the SIEC of Astana.
Several court hearings took place during the period from March to June.
On June 22, the SIEC of Astana city denied in satisfaction of the lawsuit demands.
On July 21, an appeal was sent to the Astana City Court.

On September 27, the court reviewed and satisfied the appeal. The decision came into effect.

* * * 

№ 7
Lawsuit on the Akimat of Almaty city’s failure to provide information
about measures for regulation of land ownership issues
in water protection strips and on the specially protected natural territories.

The lawsuit was filed on April 13, 2010, to the SIEC of Almaty city.

The lawsuit demands:

1. To recognize as inaction violating rights and lawful interests of a legal person the denial of the Akimat of Almaty city to provide information to the Ecological Society Green Salvation, in particular, the following Akimat’s provisions:

— № 7/976 dated on 25.09.2007 “About condemnation, including buyback, of land plots for the state needs”,
— № 9/1117 dated on 05.11.2007 “About confiscation of land plots for the state needs”,
— № 7/977 dated on 25.09.2007 “About condemnation, including buyback, of land plots for the state needs”,
— № 7/978 dated on 25.09.2007 “About condemnation, including buyback, of land plots for the state needs”,
— № 2/377 dated on 5.06.2008 “About the regulatory measures of land relations in the “Medeu” and “Chimbulak” gorges”.

2. To require the Akimat to provide the requested information to the Ecological Society.

3. To recover the court legal costs from the Akimat of Almaty city.

In May, several court hearings were cancelled because of default in appearance of the defender.
On June 1, the court made a decision about partial satisfaction of the lawsuit demands.

On September 11, the Akimat of Almaty city provided all the information requested.

* * *

№ 8
Lawsuit about inaction of the organs of public administration which led to accumulation
of an illegal dump in Besagash village.

The lawsuit in the interests of Besagash village residents was filed to the Court of the city of Talgar, Almaty oblast, on November 3, 2010.

Lawsuit demands:

1. To recognize as inaction the failure to perform direct duties by the following defenders:
— Akimat of Almaty oblast
— Akimat of Talgar region, Almaty oblast
— Akimat of Besagash rural district of Talgar region, Almaty oblast
— Emergency Department of Talgar region
— Department of State sanitary and epidemiological control for Talgar region
— Regional Department of Internal Affaires of Talgar city

2. To require the defenders to take immediate measures within their jurisdiction, in order to re-establish favorable environmental conditions for the village residents, in particular, to require the owner of the land plot and the boiler house, chairman of the cooperative “Luch Vostoka”, to liquidate the dump by demolition of the former boiling house facility.

The case remains open.

——————————————————-
Lawyer Svetlana Philippovna Katorcha defends the rights and legal interests of the Ecological Society Green Salvation in court.

Translated by Sofya Tairova.

 

 

Summary of Lawsuits in 2017 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2016 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2015 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2014 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2013 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2012 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2011 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2010 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2009 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2008 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation
Summary of Lawsuits in 2007 by the Ecological Society Green Salvation