A 46-year-old citizen of Uzbekistan, Ikboljon Koraboev, who taught international relations at Maqsut Narikbayev University, has been detained in Astana. The professor is suspected of espionage.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DETENTION
As reported by BBC, those close to Ikboljon Koraboev have said that on 3 July, several people in civilian clothes came to his home in Astana and took him away, informing him that he was suspected of espionage.
According to the publication, Koraboev is suspected under Article 176 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Espionage"). This article concerns actions related to the transfer, collection, theft or storage of state secrets in the interests of a foreign state or organisation, as well as other actions directed against the national security of Kazakhstan.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE POSSIBLE LINE OF INVESTIGATION
The publication Fergana.news cites one version according to which the detention of Ikboljon Koraboev may be linked to his research in the field of critical minerals. There is no official confirmation of this version at the time of publication.
In April 2025, the academic completed a study entitled "Comparative legal, political and strategic narratives surrounding critical minerals in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan". The work has not yet been published.
The study analysed nine documents from Kazakhstan, eight documents from Uzbekistan and three international documents. According to a colleague of the academic, the data used was taken from open sources.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT LEGAL ASSISTANCE
According to those close to the professor, he is currently not receiving proper legal assistance. The state-appointed lawyer, according to relatives, has visited him once.
The family has also hired a private defence lawyer, but according to those close to him, he has not yet been able to see Koraboev. Relatives claim that permission from the National Security Committee (NSC) is required to allow the lawyer access.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROFESSOR
Ikboljon Koraboev is a citizen of Uzbekistan. He taught international relations at Maqsut Narikbayev University and lived in Astana with his wife and three minor children.
The publication investigated the circumstances of the detention over several weeks. Some colleagues and researchers who worked with the professor declined to comment publicly or asked for their names not to be disclosed.
WHAT RESPONSES DID THE JOURNALISTS RECEIVE
The BBC also contacted a number of official bodies in Uzbekistan, including the General Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Consulate of Uzbekistan in Kazakhstan, but received no responses.
The publication also sent requests to Maqsut Narikbayev University and the Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies of the United Nations University in Belgium (UNU-CRIS), where Koraboev is listed as a senior research fellow.
UNU-CRIS expressed concern but made no official statement. The university in Astana also left the journalists' questions unanswered.
