Journalist Mikhail Kozachkov obtained information about the investigation into blogger Aigul Orynbek through unofficial sources — the Shymkent police department refused to disclose details.
According to the Telegram channel "Kozachkov offside", the case arose from an investigation into bribery involving the former deputy head of the National Security Committee (KNB), Manat Sarbasov. The KNB investigative team established that Sarbasov was in close contact with Orynbek.
At Sarbasov's request, the blogger met with Elmira Duisenkyzy, who was passing bribes to him, urged her to withdraw her statement in exchange for a refund of the money, and entered into a legal services contract with her.
The head of the investigative team concluded that Orynbek's actions contained signs of three offences: obstruction of justice, disclosure of pre-trial investigation data, and fraud. The KNB separated the three cases into individual proceedings and referred them to the Shymkent prosecutor's office.
Deputy prosecutor Yerzhan Marat confirmed that the case is being investigated under these three articles and is under the jurisdiction of the police. Why, after more than a year, no decision has been made to send the case to court or to dismiss it remains unknown.
It is worth recalling that in 2019–2020, Manat Sarbasov received a bribe of 70 million tenge from a businesswoman in exchange for protecting her school and laundered the money through the purchase of apartments. He also failed to prevent the embezzlement of 92 million tenge in public procurement of medical equipment. The court sentenced Sarbasov to 12 years in prison.