Ex-Vice Minister on Trial for Embezzlement Tied to Forum Attended by Nazarbayev and Putin

The Astana Interdistrict Criminal Court is reviewing a high-profile case involving the alleged embezzlement of 1 billion tenge during the XV Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia, Orda.kz reports.

Among the defendants are former Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports, Yerlan Kozhagapanov, and the head of SUCCESS K company, Lyazzat Kokkozova.

Kozhagapanov stands accused of abuse of office, while Kokkozova faces embezzlement charges. Investigators claim that in 2018, Kozhagapanov used his position to push for a contract with a private company to organize an exhibition at the forum held in Petropavlovsk. According to the Anti-Corruption Service, the event’s budget was unjustifiably doubled.

Both defendants deny wrongdoing. Speaking in court, Kozhagapanov claimed the case was fabricated and accused investigators of coercion.

On the final day before the case was submitted to court, the head of the investigative group approached me with a deal. He said, ‘Let’s agree to a charge of negligence at least.’ That is pure pressure on the court. (...) The public has been misled into thinking I’m facing 12 years, as stated by the deputy chair of the Agency (Antikor – Ed.). But my sanction for the charge is from zero to seven years. This disinformation is supported by pressure on witnesses, deception of witnesses, falsification of evidence,"Kozhagapanov said. 

He also stated that witness testimonies had been manipulated, and his legal team petitioned the court to reject several pieces of evidence, including what they claim are fabricated expert assessments from audit firms.

This case has been created out of thin air. I carried out my duties as Vice Minister fully, in accordance with the Constitution and the law. The head of state told us, ‘Maybe you’re afraid?’ Well, I was not afraid. I did what my job description and the Constitution required of me, and six years later, I’m in the dock on a trumped-up charge,Kozhagapanov added. 

Lyazzat Kokkozova was also questioned in court on charges of misappropriating funds allocated for the forum. She pleaded not guilty and claimed she had dissuaded supporters from holding a rally in her defense.

The trial will continue on March 27.

Kozhagapanov was detained in March 2024 by the Anti-Corruption Service following covert investigative actions.

The XV Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia was held in November 2018, with the participation of Nursultan Nazarbayev and Vladimir Putin. During the event, the two leaders signed several key agreements, including amendments to the Baikonur lease protocol and border-crossing arrangements for residents in frontier regions.

Original Author: Dinara Bekbolayeva