Slightly oily hair as feature of… poor political emigrant?

By Timur ISAKHANOV, freelancer

Fugitive criminal, ex-ambassador of Kazakhstan in Austria Rakhat Aliev is continuing to set things on fire. If two years ago, right after the escape, he extensively created himself “aristocracy Decembrist in exile” image, then today he trying to represent himself as a regular lad, the same as everyone – simple man, who loves his homeland and truly suffering for it. But yet, as always, the result appeared to be anything but not such, on which the “poor exile” reckoned.

Right after escape Rakhat Aliev extensively gave various interviews and comments, preferring, of course, Russian and European press (his person is very well known in Kazakhstani mass-media, except that from the true side). Aliev were kindly greeted foreign journalists, setting meetings in lobbies of most prestigious hotels of the Austrian capital. And there, having a cup of freshly brewed coffee, he broadcasted about sad everyday life of the true democrat, told about the sorrow about Kazakhstan homeland and blustered to discharge tons of dirt on highest power of the country in closest time.

Unhappily to Aliev, European journalists, initially been sincerely interested to him, quickly sorted out, that if poor oppositionist could put a cup of coffee in premium luxury hotel on the line, but he definitely can’t have enough for the team of personal bodyguards, suits from leading couturiers and handmade business accessories; and started to ask dirty questions. And after corruption scandals emerged, which is connected to Aliev personally, now on Austrian territory, stance to him sharply changed.

Rakhat Aliev decided that image change could influence the situation. By stopping showing off and demonstrate his wealth, he started to act himself as a common person. Consider only price of his appearance on K+ television channel. Non-styled and a bit oily hair, the fringe, falling as near as half-the-face, sown-home jacket… saying “look at me, I am the same as everyone, I’m good guy, I’m poor and unhappy”.

But sadly that isn’t worked either. The looks of a luckless man appeared to be too intentional. And demonstration of chase concerns and almost 007 fervors with meeting point only entertained the press. That’s how the journalist from Russian Newsweek described his meeting with Aliev: “he agreed to meet me in one of European capitals, but gave himself a time to find about me by his own path. After few days he informed me where to come to wait for further instructions. On appointed day Aliev called back (number didn’t appeared), and told that his deputy will now arrive.

His runner, young European of solid constitution, invited me to sit in black executive saloon and asked right away, isn’t it frightening to sit in stranger’s car. I explained that I used to catch up private cars back in Moscow. He clucked unfriendly and asked to fasten my seatbelt, although he wasn’t. “I never clip on while working”, he cut.

We stopped by unremarkable hotel in outskirts of the city. Rakhat Aliev awaited us sitting in far side of hotel’s restaurant in the company of another bodyguard. He sat with his back to the exit, near window; curtains were drawn. Cigarettes, coffee and apple juice on the table. If there were no two big guys sitting behind the table near us, Aliev could be bought as wealthy tourist.”

Deutsche Welle journalists were too offered to play spies. That’s how ironically those reporters are describing the meeting: “the meeting neither took place in fashionable restaurant nor in the suit of five-star hotel or expensive villa, as it could be proposed, but in faceless still prestigious office in one of European cities (…). Aliev came on the interview wearing quiet dress: baseball cap, pulled on the eyes, expensive but not bright blue jacket with laid-on brown patches on elbows, blue shirt and jeans. He brought two small men’s bags and paper bag; in which, as appeared later, were gift-book samples on Russian and German of Aliev’s book ”Godfather-in-law”. Part of containments of the bags he busily put on the table as soon as he took seat. If judged by previous interviews of Aliev to western press, this is a worked out move: laid-out documents giving authenticity to conversations”.

Such episodes are encountered almost in any interview of Vienna Sitter. Reporters, used to see a catch in anything, have quickly compared the facts and came to only true conclusion – this man couldn’t be trusted. Cheating even in small things and such extensively working for the public, he thinks not about the country and homeland and of course not about democracy, but about trivial saving of his own skin in brand packaging.