Court Hands Down Sentence in Kospayev Organized Crime Group Case

The Specialized Interdistrict Criminal Court of Astana has sentenced 11 defendants involved in the organized crime group led by Yeldos Kospayev, infamously known as "Ludoyed" (The Man-eater) and the right-hand of Bolat Nazarbayev, Orda.kz reports.

The high-profile trial, which began on September 24, 2024, was conducted behind closed doors due to charges involving sexual offenses against one defendant. Journalists were not even allowed to attend the announcement of the verdict.

The court found all 11 defendants guilty of various crimes, including corporate raiding, embezzlement, and participating in an organized crime group. One defendant was additionally convicted of sexual assault.

Almat Isakhan, the judge of the Astana Specialized Criminal Court, delivered the sentences:

Based on Part 3 of Article 58 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, for multiple criminal offenses, sentence Yeldos Kospayev to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property, with deprivation of the right to hold executive positions in commercial organizations for a period of 10 years, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities in the field of sale of alcoholic beverages for a period of 10 years.

Other Defendants:

• Aidos Kospayev, Ruslan Shalin, Yerlan Imashev, Dastan Abizhanov, Kamardin Alymov, Rauan Babayev, and Timur Tanashev each received 12 years in prison with property confiscation and bans on executive roles in commercial organizations for 10 years.
• Additionally, Ruslan Shalin and Yerlan Imashev received a 10-year ban on alcohol sale-related activities.
• Alexey Kuznetsov received 12 years in prison, property confiscation, and a 10-year ban on alcohol sale-related activities.
• Oksana Kudryashova was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with property confiscation and a 10-year ban on accounting work. 
• Vasily Babushkin was sentenced to 9 years in prison, property confiscation, and a 3-year ban on alcohol sale-related activities.

The state prosecution had initially sought a 15-year sentence for Yeldos Kospayev and 12 years for the other defendants. 

According to our investigation, the group seized the property of entrepreneurs through violence and threats, took away their shares in companies, and were also engaged in shadow business.

As part of the investigation, the property of the organized crime group, obtained by criminal means, was seized: 133 real estate properties, 11 land plots, 35 luxury vehicles, and $9 million in cash.

Yeldos and Aibek Kospayev, along with Bolat Nazarbayev's daughter Kunduz Nazarbayeva, were listed as founders of AV Construction. On October 18, 2017, Kunduz Nazarbayeva and Yeldos Kospayev became the owners of the construction company.

In an interview with Orda.kz, businessman Almas Abdygapparov detailed how the group forcibly took over his construction business, leading to his imprisonment.

The Kospayev brothers and other group members fled to Northern Cyprus to evade prosecution.

However, a successful operation by Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) brought them back to face justice.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya