Two Austrian Policemen Detained For Spying For Kazakhstan

Rakhat Aliev (file photo)

PRAGUE -- The prosecutor's office in Vienna has confirmed that two Austrian policemen have been arrested for allegedly spying for Kazakhstan, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Austrian media reported that the two officers were gathering information from a computer about Rakhat Aliev -- the former son-in-law of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev -- who has been living in self-imposed exile in Austria since 2007.

Last month an Austrian policeman faced similar charges and was found guilty.

Aliev, the former Kazakh ambassador to Austria and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, was tried by Kazakhstan in absentia last year and found guilty of kidnapping, torture, and extortion. He says the charges are politically motivated.

Austria has refused to extradite Aliev to Kazakhstan.