Skip Links
U.S. Department of State
Free Markets and Free Trade Open to All  |  Daily Press Briefing | What's NewU.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
SEARCHU.S. Department of State
Subject IndexBookmark and Share
U.S. Department of State
HomeHot Topics, press releases, publications, info for journalists, and morepassports, visas, hotline, business support, trade, and morecountry names, regions, embassies, and morestudy abroad, Fulbright, students, teachers, history, and moreforeign service, civil servants, interns, exammission, contact us, the Secretary, org chart, biographies, and more
Video
 You are in: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs: Press Relations Office > Press Releases (Other) > 2001 > July 
Press Statement
Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
July 19, 2001


Service of Legal Papers to Former Kazakhstan Prime Minister during House International Relations Hearing

During Congressional hearings July 18 on human rights in Central Asia, a Kazakhstan Embassy official attempted to serve legal papers to former Kazakhstan Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin outside the committee hearing room. The House International Relations Committee expressed its displeasure at this action, which some considered an attempt to intimidate invited witnesses, and formally requested that the Department of State register an official protest with the Embassy of Kazakhstan for trying to deliver the legal papers on Capitol Hill. The Committee also expressed concern for the safety of the Kazakhstanis who had testified once they return to Kazakhstan.

Later in the hearing, the Committee approved the request of another Kazakhstan Embassy official to address the committee. He offered apologies on behalf of his Ambassador to the Committee and Mr. Kazhegeldin for the actions of his colleague.

While we appreciate the apology, the Department will protest this ill-advised action to the Government of Kazakhstan.


Released on July 19, 2001

  Back to top

U.S. Department of State
USA.govU.S. Department of StateUpdates  |  Frequent Questions  |  Contact Us  |  Email this Page  |  Subject Index  |  Search
The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.
About state.gov  |  Privacy Notice  |  FOIA  |  Copyright Information  |  Other U.S. Government Information

Published by the U.S. Department of State Website at http://www.state.gov maintained by the Bureau of Public Affairs.