(20 February 2026 | Source: Centralmedia24.kz)
The Specialised Inter-District Criminal Court of Almaty found bloggers Damir Kusheev and Ruslan Karimov guilty of extortion and sentenced each to 9 years in prison. In a separate incident involving a police officer, Kusheev was acquitted. The verdict has not yet entered into force.
HOW THE CONFLICT DEVELOPED
According to the investigation, between 20 and 22 January 2025, the defendants, acting in a pre-arranged conspiracy, demanded that the victim waive payments on court debts of 20 and 23 million tenge and hand over 18 million tenge in cash. It emerged that the bloggers had threatened to disclose compromising information.
Separately, Damir Kusheev was accused of extorting 40,000 tenge from a police officer using similar threats. He was found not guilty of this charge, reports Centralmedia24.kz.
THE COURT DECISION
The prosecutor had requested 10 years in prison for each defendant. The defendants pleaded not guilty, insisting on acquittal. The victims called for imprisonment.
Ultimately, the court found four defendants guilty under Article 194 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“Extortion”), among whom only the bloggers Damir Kusheev and Ruslan Karimov are known.
To recall, on 5 February, it became known that the capital’s department of the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) had completed an investigation into bloggers Erbolat Zhanabylov and Elmira Tolegenova.
They were suspected of illegal business activities and legalising criminally obtained funds. A measure of restraint in the form of house arrest was chosen for the bloggers.
Later, on 17 February, it was reported that activists from Shymkent, Yergali Kulbayev and Aklima Yertaykyzy, were charged with extortion during the election of the akim (mayor) of the Kazaly District in summer 2025. The court sentenced each to 4 years in prison.