Law enforcement agency completes criminal investigation against Nazarbayev’s nephew in Kazakhstan
The General Prosecutor’s Office of Kazakhstan has completed its criminal investigation against Samat Abish, nephew of Ex-President Nursultan Nazarbayev. He’s been accused of abuse of power during the «January events» (the nationwide unrest in January 2022) in the country.
What happened? According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation against Abish, a former first deputy head of the National Security Committee (KNB), has been completed.
«The pre-trial investigation against Abish under article 362, part 4 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan was completed and transferred to the court,» the agency said in a statement.
What is the ex-officer of the KNG accused of? The General Prosecutor’s Office believes that Abish committed abuse of power that caused severe consequences.
Where is the suspect? The agency reported that Nazarbayev’s nephew is in Kazakhstan under travel restrictions.
The context. On September 19, the General Prosecutor’s Office reported that it was investigating a case against Samat Abish, a former first deputy head of the KNB, who had been accused of abusing his power during the January events. The agency also said that Abish was in Kazakhstan under travel restrictions.
A week later, the agency explained why it allowed Abish to stay at home under a written pledge not to leave the country rather than just arrest him.
«Investigators always decide this issue on their own. Perhaps, they don’t think that he is going to run away and he’s never breached his legal liabilities. Therefore, they allowed him to stay at home,» Deputy Prosecutor Generalat Asset Chindaliyev said at the time.
Abish is a nephew of Ex-President Nursultan Nazarbayev. In September 2022, his older brother Kairat Satybaldy was sentenced to six years in jail for money embezzlement in Kazakhtelecom and Transport Service Center.
In April 2023, Karim Massimov, the former chief of Abish, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for treason, an attempt to seize power by force and abuse of power. His deputies Anuar Sadykulov, Daulet Yergozhin and Marat Osipov have been sentenced to different terms in prison as well.
