By empty (4/28/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A court in Almaty called on 28 April for the arrest of former Emergency Situations Agency head Zamanbek Nurkadilov. Nurkadilov, a onetime supporter of President Nursultan Nazarbaev who joined the opposition in 2004, faces defamation over his charges that unnamed officials were complicit in the 2004 death of journalist Askhat Sharipzhanov. The court, which has not yet ruled on the substance of the case, had ordered on 20 April that Nurkadilov be brought to court by force after he refused to appear, although he entered a \"not guilty\" plea in absentia.

By empty (4/28/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A Georgian military official told Caucasus Press on 28 April that a Russian officer with the peacekeeping force deployed in the Abkhaz conflict zone has been detained in connection with the 20 April death of a young Georgian in Gali Raion. He said Russian, Georgian, Abkhaz, and UN officials are investigating the incident together with the North Caucasus Military Prosecutor\'s Office. Also on 28 April, a Russian officer from the North Caucasus Military District told Caucasus Press that the Russian peacekeeper accused of killing the young man acted correctly.

By empty (4/28/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Georgian Foreign Minister Zourabichvili has assured Armenians currently serving at the Russian military base in Akhalkalaki that the Georgian government will offer them alternative employment after that base is closed. Meeting on 28 April with visiting Armenian parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian, President Saakashvili likewise affirmed that the Georgian government will implement a development plan for the remote, impoverished, and mountainous region, including improving existing highways linking it with other parts of Georgia and with neighboring Armenia. (Caucasus Press).