US criminal network linked to murder of Kazakhstani citizen in Istanbul

The murder of a Kazakhstani citizen earlier this year in Istanbul led intelligence and law enforcement agencies in three countries to uncover a transnational organized crime group allegedly controlled by a crime boss serving a prison sentence in the U.S. The group specialized in extorting businesses. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has revealed details of the operation, which was carried out jointly with law enforcement agencies in Georgia and Turkey.

Murder in Turkey and first arrests

The large-scale investigation began after the murder of Kazakhstani citizen Arif Ismailov in Istanbul. Through operational cooperation between the three countries, Turkish police, with assistance from their Kazakhstani counterparts, quickly arrested two suspects.

Further investigation into the suspects’ contacts by Kazakhstan’s MIA and the National Security Committee identified the alleged masterminds behind the killing and uncovered a concealed transnational criminal network.

Criminal network linked to U.S. prison

According to Kazakhstani law enforcement authorities, the alleged leader of the network is a criminal kingpin serving a prison sentence in the U.S. for the attempted murder of a journalist.

Kuandyk Alpys, spokesperson for the MIA’s Department for Combating Organized Crime, said the group operated across three countries.

«The goal of these crimes was to establish a network of influence over businesses run by representatives of certain ethnic groups using elements of criminal ideology,» the ministry said in a statement.

Arrests in Almaty and Georgia

Information obtained during the Istanbul investigation also helped prevent additional crimes in Kazakhstan. One alleged hitman was arrested in Almaty. Investigators say he was involved in the attempted murder of a local resident in August 2025. Police seized the weapon allegedly used in the attack, and the case has already been referred to court.

Authorities also dismantled a group of alleged members of the criminal organization in Almaty who are accused of carrying out a series of armed attacks. At the same time, law enforcement agencies in Georgia arrested several individuals believed to be linked to the same transnational network.

Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and prepare the legal case against the group’s alleged organizer.