2023-07-05 18:15:16
French authorities demanded from the former head of the Kazakh BTA Bank Mukhtar Ablyazov to leave the country within 30 days. The businessman is wanted by Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. The UK sought his arrest due to disobedience to court decisions.
As Ablyazov himself writes in social networks, the decision was made under pressure from Astana, but he intends to challenge it. The businessman added that he had neither a visa nor a passport to leave France. A link to the collection of donations in favor of Ablyazov is attached to the post.
Lawyer Andrey Goltsblat talks regarding the prospects of the banker:
Andrei Goltsblat lawyer
In the early 2000s, following creating an opposition movement in Kazakhstan, Ablyazov spent two years in prison on fraud charges. Later, the banker promised to no longer engage in political activities, following which he was pardoned by President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
In the 2010s, Ablyazov was accused of embezzling nearly $5 billion from BTA Bank. When the businessman was put on the wanted list through Interpol at the request of Russia, he was under arrest in France. Extradition was sought by Moscow, Astana and Kyiv – the decision on extradition was made, but Ablyazov managed to challenge it and get asylum. However, last year Ablyazova deprived asylum, and he failed to challenge this through the courts.
If extradited to Kazakhstan, he will have to serve a life sentence in the case of contract killing. In Russia, he was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison.
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