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World Jewish News
Security Services of Kazakhstan Arrest Representative of Israeli Defense Industry
29.03.2009
One week ago in Alma-Ata the security services of Kazakhstan detained Boris Sheinkman who mediated between the Israel's defense industry and Kazakhstan. The Israeli consul was not allowed to see Sheinkman and he was also not allowed to meet his lawyers.
The arrest of an Israeli in one of the largest cities of Kazakhstan was reported by the Maariv newspaper today. Sheinkman has been detained in an Alma-Ata street by the representatives of the local special task forces, and later transported to the capital city of Astana.
According to Maariv, Sheinkman, 61, represented in Kazakhstan the interests of four Israel's enterprises, Soltam, military-industrial concern TAAS, Elbit and Aeronotics. In 2007 and 2008, these firms concluded transactions with Kazakhstan in the amount of $300 million.
In an interview to Maariv, representatives of the Israeli defense industry informed that thanks to these deals Kazakhstan received modern arms which were not at the disposal of Russia, or the United States.
Boris Sheinkman holds a doctorate in science. Before repatriation he was military staff and had the rank of the Colonel in the Soviet army. He repatriated to Israel in 1991 from Kazakhstan with his family. He lives in Netaniya, however, he spends most of the time in his "pre-historic Motherland."
After his arrest was reported, the Israeli consul in Kazakhstan requested to meet with Sheinkman. He received authorization and came to the place where Sheinkman was being held, but after hearing that "the administration has to deal with certain formalities" and waiting for several hours, it became apparent that he could not meet with him.
According to Maariv, the reason of Sheinkman’s detention may have been a disagreement between the Kazakhstan Ministry of Defense and the local secret services. Besides it is not excluded, that intervention of Russia was taking place in this case as Moscow is not interested in selling modern arms to Kazakhstan by Israel.
The edition underlines that the true reasons of Sheinkman's detention are unclear, while the Kazakh authorities have not yet brought any charges.
Flashback: Military and Technical Cooperation of Israel and Kazakhstan
Last summer the NEWSru.co.il with reference to the Jane's Defense News magazine, reported that three new artillery systems have been developed by the defense companies Soltam, TAAS and Elbit for Kazakhstan armed forces. They were the subject of a presentation to Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev on the May 12 at the training area of the Otar Guards Motor Rifle Division near Alma-Aty.
Developed by Israeli industry under the contract with the Kazakhstan Ministry of Defence (MoD), the systems are to be manufactured by local Kazakhstan companies. Later on, the systems are expected to be exported to other countries in the region, including Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The Soltam company has developed the Semser 122 mm truck-mounted howitzer and the Aibat 120 mm self-propelled (SP) mortar. The mortar, which weighs 605 kilograms, has an increased maneuver effectiveness and is designed for 4 but not 7 people. The TAAS concern, in its turn, has developed Naiza, a variant of Lynx autonomous multipurpose rocket system.
All three systems have integrated automated command-and-control (C2) systems, provided by Soltam and Elbit.
Additionally, Aeronautics Defense Systems Orbiter mini-UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) systems provide aerial reconnaissance, target data and live battle-damage assessment, and in peaceful time help fight forest and steppe fires.
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