LEGAL

Mukhtar Ablyazov found himself in a personal conflict with the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. On the one hand, he had refused to transfer the shares in his private bank to the state. On the other hand, he had been actively supporting opposition activities. As a result of the dispute, Ablyazov has repeatedly been held in prisons and labour camps. In 2009, the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan initiated an investigation against Mukhtar Ablyazov, accusing him of financial embezzlement in the bank, which he had headed. Soon after Ablyazov left Kazakhstan, in September, 2009, the new management of the bank began to file claims against him in the UK Supreme Court. At the same time, Kazakhstan is trying to extradite Ablyazov with the use of Interpol's instruments and in cooperation with the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In July, 2013, Ablyazov was arrested in France. For the moment, the proceedings pertaining to his extradition Kazakhstan are pending.

  • KAZAKHSTAN Charges

    Due to his continued political activities, in 2009, Ablyazov once again fell out of favour with President Nazarbayev. The General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan initiated an investigation against the former heads of BTA Bank, including Ablyazov, accusing them of embezzlement, formation of an organised criminal group and the legalisation of illegally acquired funds.

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  • UNITED KINGDOM Process

    Ablyazov left Kazakhstan in fear of reprisals, and settled in Britain, where, in July, 2011, he was granted political asylum. Since 2009, the new management of the nationalised BTA Bank has brought 11 lawsuits against Ablyazov in the courts of England.

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  • FRANCE Arrest

    On 31 July, 2013, M. Ablyazov was arrested in the south of France, in the town of Mouans-Sartoux, about eight kilometres north of Cannes, by French Special Forces on the basis of anInterpol notice. At the same time, Ukrainian law enforcement authorities made a request for his extradition.

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  • DOWNLOADS Documents

    This section gathers documents related to Ablyazov's case, including legal documents, expert opinions and testimonies from court proceedings.

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