Shymkent Specialised Criminal Court found six defendants guilty in the murder case of Vasily Kolesnikov and sentenced them to between 20 and 23 years of imprisonment. The verdict has not yet entered into legal force and may be appealed.
WHAT SENTENCES THE DEFENDANTS RECEIVED
As reported by the victims' lawyer Talgat Yessimov, on 4 November 2026 judge Abinur Karabayev delivered the verdict to the six defendants.
Arysbayev received 23 years of imprisonment, Inkarbekov and Kyzbalayev — 22 years each, Yerimbet — 21 years, Zhumnazar — 20 years, Kuandykov — 20 years and 6 months.
The defendants were charged with four counts:
- part 3 of article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Hooliganism");
- part 3 of article 24, points 7 and 9 of part 2 of article 99 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Attempted murder");
- points 1, 3 and 4 of part 2 of article 125 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Kidnapping");
- points 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 of part 2 of article 99 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Murder").
WHAT THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENCE REQUESTED
At the court pleadings on 6 October, prosecutor of the Shymkent city prosecutor's office department Mukhtar Arystanov asked that the defendants be sentenced to between 22 and 24 years of imprisonment. The defendants' lawyers, by contrast, asked that they be acquitted of the murder charge and found guilty only of hooliganism and kidnapping.
On 23 October the judge resumed the judicial investigation after the parties' pleadings, as the court needed to assess the seized property. Among it was a Lexus 570 car, which, according to the lawyer, was used during the crime. Masks were also seized.
WHO ELSE IS STILL WANTED
According to the lawyer, Daulasov M. and a person known as Bakha remain wanted.
At the same time, the verdict in respect of the six defendants has not yet entered into legal force. The parties may appeal the court decision.
CONTEXT
The crime occurred on 20 January 2026 on a busy street in Shymkent. A scuffle involving bladed weapons took place there, after which Vasily Kolesnikov was kidnapped. The scuffle and the kidnapping were captured on CCTV cameras.
A few hours later Kolesnikov's body was found in the village of Temirlan in the Ordabasinsky district, approximately 100 km from Shymkent. Two of his acquaintances who had been with him in the car survived. One of them suffered serious injuries and lost a great deal of blood.
