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AKE Raises Kazakhstan Risk Rating

LONDON – Risk consultancy AKE has raised the security risk rating for Kazakhstan in the wake of increased terrorist activity in the country. The country rating has been elevated from 8 (low risk of conflict) to 11 (flashpoint) on AKE’s 1-100 scale.

A rating of 1 denotes a stable and largely safe security environment, whereas 100 denotes the highest level of risk. Most of Europe falls within the 1-10 scale. The United Kingdom is currently ranked at 7. Afghanistan is now the highest rated country, sitting at 53.

Incidents related to terrorism, including Kazakhstan’s first suicide bomb in Aktobe in May 2011, have been on the increase over recent months. In response, the government has warned of the threat posed by religious extremism.

The government’s handling of this threat, which has seen parliament pass a law limiting religious practices, looks set to further fuel religious tensions in the country.

The Prosecutor-General’s office confirmed on 9 November that the militant group Soldiers of the Caliphate (Jund al-Khilafah) was behind twin explosions which occurred in the town of Atyrau on 31 October.

Attacks to date have tended to target locations and personnel associated with the administrative, judicial and security services. However, AKE believes that there is a risk in the longer term that higher profile facilities linked to the country’s hydrocarbon operations may also be targeted.

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