Kazakhstani Intrigues and a Plot in Italy

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2018/11/16/cortese-improta-5-others-indicted-for-shalabayeva_d718a8c1-09ea-41be-adb7-d6b7355c206f.html

I won't pretend to understand all the details of this case but it's safe to say there are multiple facets and layers. It's the story of Mukhtar Ablyazov, a corrupt figure from Kazakhstan. It must be remembered that in the 1990's Central Asia and indeed all of the former USSR were to some degree in a state of chaos. It was the age of the oligarchs, big business deals and lots of disappearing money.

The West had its proxies as they sought to loot and appropriate the wealth and power of its former enemy. Billions disappeared from both Russia proper and the former states of the USSR. Some men grew fabulously wealthy and others seemed to all but seek the moon. Some more or less got it but others went down in flames. Ablyazov's story points to the fact that numerous of these figures were allied with the Western Deep State. They facilitated the business deals that swung nations like Kazakhstan into the Western orbit. And yet the game is by no means over. Central Asia is still a cauldron being vied for by the various powers. It's a great game between the US, Russia, China, Iran, India, the EU and others.

Ablyazov fell afoul of the (also quite corrupt) Nazarbayev regime and was forced to flee. His financial and political empire had collapsed but not before he had stolen a great deal of money and done the bidding of some his powerful friends.

Does anyone doubt this? His transformation from a corrupt businessman and politician into a dissident could only have been pulled off by the Western Deep State. He has repeatedly evaded prison as court after court has 'flipped' and allowed him to go free. I'm sure he has taken his knocks and suffered his defeats but it's clear he has powerful friends.

Nazarbayev is still (at least in part) an ally of the West but the arrangement continues to be tenuous, shaky and ever unstable. The West is playing its cards, planning for the future, extending a hand of aid even while holding a big stick behind its back. Nazarbayev knows the score and yet he's not idle. There's a reversal underway. Kazakhstan once considered to be more or less in the Western orbit is moving toward Moscow and the rival and neighbouring state of Uzbekistan, long close to Putin's Russia is slipping away and re-orienting itself toward the West.

Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev has (probably with outside help) reached out to elements within Italy that were willing to go against the dictates of the Western Deep State. Their motivations may be political or it may have been simple corruption and a desire for a big payoff. I'm surprised the Western media hasn't done more to implicate Moscow in this affair as it would hardly be surprising to learn that Putin is helping Nazarbayev in this matter. Ablyazov is wanted by Moscow too and it's certain they are irritated by the West's transformation of a criminal and probably murderer into a political dissident and hero.

What we have is a shadowy abduction conducted by figures connected to the Italian military-intelligence Establishment but the plans went awry as there are powerful forces at work that want to help Ablyazov. Once again this incident points to the fact that the Western Establishment is splintered and in a state of civil war.

Will these corrupt law enforcement officials and diplomats associated with the illegal deportation be held to account? We'll see. What will the Salvini regime do? They are not quite on board with Brussels and yet the signals from Washington are certainly mixed. The Nazarbayev regime lost face in that they were forced to send Shalabayeva back to Italy. Again clearly Ablyazov has some very powerful friends. But what will happen to these conspirators? Will more of the story come out?

The story is by no means over but it's something I will continue to watch. It provides an opportunity to read between the lines and learn a lot more about what's really going on both in the Western intelligence and political establishments and in the Great Game that is Central Asia.