Kazakhgate

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Kazakhgate refers to the scandal surrounding James Giffen, an American businessman and former advisor of Nazarbayev, the president of Kazakhstan, who allegedly paid $78 million in bribes to Nazarbayev and former Minister of Oil & Gas of Kazakhstan Nurlan Balgimbayev to secure contracts over the Tengiz oil fields for Western companies in the 1990s.^[1] James Giffen was arrested in 2003 in Kennedy airport of New York while attempting to board a plane to Kazakhstan. He was charged with violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1974. He was carrying a Kazakhstani diplomatic passport, though dual citizenship is not allowed by the laws of Kazakhstan.

Giffen is accused of creating Swiss bank accounts, paying tuition at exclusive boarding schools for family members of Kazakh officials, and buying millions of dollars in jewelry. Giffen insisted that he was performing the secret mission of the US special services. Giffen demanded using the classified information at his trial to back up his claims. The government has opposed the revelation of classified information.^[2] He faces up to 88 years in prison if he is found guilty on all charges and only 4-7 years if he is found guilty only on tax evasion charges.

1 Kazakhgate in fiction
2 Reaction
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Kazakhgate in fiction

James Giffen is the main character of a book by former CIA agent Robert Bauer "See No Evil", where he is nicknamed "Mr. Kazakhstan". George Clooney produced "Syriana" film based on this book. Tim Blake Nelson played the role of Giffen.

[edit] Reaction

Kazakhstan officially said that has nothing to do with their country as it concerns an American citizen, though several American attorneys addressed the US Department of Justice on behalf of Kazakhstan ^[3]. They requested to stop the proceedings taking into account the strategic importance of US relations with Kazakhstan.