President Tokayev refuses to pardon Karim Massimov

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has refused to pardon Karim Massimov, former chair of the National Security Committee (KNB), Informburo.kz reported.

«After reviewing whether it was possible to apply the act of grace to Massimov, the pardon commission sent its recommendation to the president and he has agreed with that,» the media outlet reported.

In late June, the Commission on Pardon Issues Under the President of Kazakhstan recommended that the president reject Massimov’s petition for a pardon. At the time, MP Marat Bashimov, a member of the commission, noted that it was just a recommendation and the last word must be given by the president.

Authorities have already notified the author of the petition about President Tokayev’s decision.

The context. In early June, several media outlets reported that Ex-Chair of KNB Massimov, sentenced to jail for state treason and an attempt at a coup d’état, filed an official petition and asked the president for a pardon.

In April 2023, the Astana court sentenced Karim Massimov to 18 years in prison for treason, attempt of a coup d’état and abuse of power. Three of his deputies – Anuar Sadykulov, Daulet Yergozhin and Marat Osipov – were also sentenced to different terms.

In early January 2022, the KNB detained its former boss, immediately classifying the case. Later, Massimov was recognized as the key figure behind bloody events throughout Kazakhstan in early January 2022, causing the death of 238 people.