Court Orders Two-Month Arrest for Almaty Bloggers in Extortion Case

The Almaty investigative court has ordered bloggers Damir Kusheyev and Ruslan Karimov to be held in custody for two months. Their lawyers plan to appeal the decision, reports Orda.kz.

Damir Kusheyev's wife, Akmeir, claims the judge rejected crucial evidence - an audio recording allegedly proving her husband's innocence.

The judge listened to the audio file, which proves Damir wasn't present during the conversation between Blayev, Kurmagazy and Ruslan Karimov, in her chambers rather than the courtroom. She then claimed the recording was inaudible and incomprehensible, Kusheyeva said.

She maintains that the alleged victim, Bakhtiyar Blayev, has no claims against her husband and that he was set up.

Blayev himself stated he has no claims against Kusheyev. I don't understand why there's such pressure and prosecution from the police, prosecutors, and the judge. This is the second time he's been illegally detained and convicted, violating all his constitutional rights, Kusheyeva wrote on Instagram.

The bloggers were detained after posting a video showing convicted businessman Bakhtiyar Blayev, who should be serving time in a settlement colony, freely driving around Almaty in a Land Cruiser. 

Police say the bloggers and a business rival of Blayev received 10 million tenge from the victim.

Ruslan Karimov's father, Sulim Nagayev, told Orda.kz that the appeals court will review their complaint in the coming days.

We've submitted flash drives with audio recordings that clearly show Ruslan has nothing to do with what he's accused of. He wasn't even anywhere near there, you see? I hope the court will be objective,he said.

Nagayev hopes the detention measure for his son will be changed.

Original Author: Aliya Askarova