Is Aliev better than Polanski?

By Meirzhan BULTAY

There’s only one step from extradition of the year: Switzerland has agreed to extradite to USA Roman Polanski, famous film director. Nobody knows how long Kazakhstani extradition will be awaited. Rakhat Aliev, accused in more serious crimes, is sheltering in Austria now.

Crime story, in which Roman Polanski centered in, lasts from the previous century since 1997. American police arrested French film director in the house of famous actor, Jack Nicholson. 44-years old Polanski was accused in seduction of 13-years old girl. Roman Polanski was accused in five criminal charges more, but free from a charge in exchange of agreeing to acknowledge his sexual relations with underage person.

After acknowledging the blame film director flew to France. USA authorities put him in federal wanted list but French didn’t give their talented national icon into the arms of abroad justice. Though nobody called back the warrant on arrest but scandal has been calming in years. Last September Polanski went to Switzerland for visiting film festival where he must be nominated next award.

Roman Polanski was taken into custody on the basis of that 30 years last warrant at arrival to Alpine Republic. Switzerland Ministry of Justice approved USA official request on film director extradition. Actually Polanski has chances to expostulate the decision. France, as well as Poland (Roman Polanski homeland), ask to expunge by pardon famous film director. Crime victim said to court that she has already forgiven Polanski. Unlikely 75 years old film director would be charged with a severe punishment. That is not even a point. The situation with Polanski shows us arrest and extradition mechanism of western type, yet it took 30 years to implement.

Meanwhile Rakhat Aliev is living steadily in Austria, country that neighboring to Switzerland. He wasn’t extradited to Kazakhstani justice for two and a half years. Probably, the comparison of these two cases seems incorrect. We compare too different persons. Polanski is the real talent; he is the star of the world cinema, Oscar laureate, Golden Palm of Cannes film festival winner and other prestigious festivals awarded.

Rakhat Aliev has more ranks, titles and rewards than Polanski, but the price for all of them is well known. He owes his distinguished career to the marriage on daughter of the President of Kazakhstan only. Now, when he’s in hidings, he is not son-in-law and even took his new wife’s surname – Elmira Shorazova – his former secretary. Howbeit, Rakhat extradition is extremely important for Kazakhstan. It will prove that all people have common rights before justice, independently from money and status.

Switzerland authorities demonstrated it when arrested Polanski. Austrian police also put Rakhat Aliev in irons when he arrived to Vienna in 2007 year. However, they thought soon that Rakhat could be useful dummy in big game as former intelligence agency’s head, because he took suitcases with top secret information as he personally said. The world’s most humane court denied in Rakhat extradition on the basis that he won’t be granted with the proper justice in Kazakhstan. They weren’t applied Austrian justice to Aliev and left him absolutely unpunished.

Meanwhile, in comparison with Rakhat Aliev, Roman Polanski is innocent lamb. 13 years old girl wasn’t raped by him. California laws treat sexual connection with underage person as a violation. Plus to it, he is still in the status of accused person.

As for Rakhat Aliev, he is already convicted with guilty verdict. He was accused for kidnapping of his own commercial bank’s managers and for leadership at the organized crime group. It is the smallest part of the crimes he is involved in, experts say.

Rakhat Aliev wasn’t accused in rape of underage girl. He is blaming in death of quite adult Anastasia Novikova, who had daughter from Rakhat Aliev in unlawfully connection. Novikova was found in Beirut; supposedly she felt out of a window by accident. This happened at the time when his nearest assistants came to the city. A man Novikova was in fictitious marriage to legalize her relations with Rakhat Aliev, died by natural death little later, accidently as well.

It is clearly, in a view of such circumstances, leading-time of Rakhat Aliev extradition can be explained exceptionally by political reasons, and not connected with justice absolutely. The reasons are weightily so Austrian authorities are risking their reputation by mantling the absconder immersed in the crimes. He surely understands, looking at Polanski, the extradition is unavoidable in any case. Rakhat Aliev, or Shoraz, or any other surname he will choose, won’t help to escape the extradition. That is why he will excel himself to do any panic attempt he can to get-away free from justice.