Former Minister Mukhamediuly: Hunger Strike Claims Refuted by Penal Enforcement Officials

A peculiar statement appeared on the former Culture Minister Mukhamediuly Arystanbek's Facebook page, Orda.kz reports.

I, Mukhamediuly Arystanbek, declare: in protest against the arbitrariness and illegal actions of the judiciary, I declare a hunger strike until I take my own life, the message says.

In response to our request, the Department of the Penal Enforcement System for the Aqmola Region stated that the information was untrue:

He eats, which is confirmed by CCTV footage. No complaints or statements have been received from him. In addition, in accordance with the established procedure, the convicted person does not have access to a mobile phone. At the same time, an investigation is being conducted into the publication on social networks on his behalf. There is liability for disseminating false information, the press service clarified.

The former Minister is serving an 11-year sentence recently extended from eight years due to attempted bribery charges. His original conviction stemmed from the embezzlement of 221 million tenge from an international exhibition fund.

Mukhamediuly addressed President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev in a letter late last year.

In it, he detailed what he claimed were legal violations and injustice in his case.

Original Author: Raushan Korzhumbekova