In recent months, Kazakhstan initiated a chase directed at opponents of the regime. The hunt for opposition activists is taking place all over Europe. Kazakhstan, in close cooperation with the Russian Federation and Ukraine, issued at least four requests for extradition, using the international treaties in an instrumental manner to fight the opposition. The chase is political in nature with Mukhtar Ablyazov as the target. With the help of Interpol, Kazakhstan is also chasing Ablyazov's colleagues – including Alexandr Pavlov, Zaure Akpenbetova, Tatiana Paraskevich – and members of his family. Ablyazov and his former associates are accused of organising a criminal group and embezzling money from BTA Bank, which was headed by Ablyazov in the years 2005-2009.