Police Link Istanbul Killing of Kazakhstani Citizen to International Crime Group
Photo: Haberler
Kazakhstan’s police say they have solved the March 31 killing of Kazakhstani citizen Arif Ismailov in Istanbul and linked it to a transnational organized crime group, Orda.kz reports, citing the Interior Ministry.
According to police, the group was allegedly directed from a US prison by a crime boss convicted of attempting to murder a journalist.
Ismailov was shot in broad daylight in Istanbul’s Fatih district. A man approached him on the street and shot him in the head. Two alleged gunmen, both Georgian citizens, were detained near the border in Edirne while reportedly attempting to flee.
The investigation uncovered links to several other crimes. Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry and National Security Committee conducted a joint operation in Kazakhstan, Georgia and Turkey targeting the alleged criminal network.
Police said they had identified both the organizer and the person suspected of ordering Ismailov’s killing. Both are allegedly connected to transnational criminal groups and have been placed on an international wanted list.
Another suspected member of the group was detained in Almaty over the attempted killing of a city resident in August 2025. Police seized a firearm, completed the investigation and sent the case to court.
Several alleged members of this criminal organization have been detained in Almaty. They are accused of involvement in multiple shootings,said Kuandyk Alpys, a representative of the Interior Ministry’s Department for Combating Organized Crime.
According to police, the group sought to control businesses owned by members of diaspora communities through threats and criminal influence.
Suspects allegedly connected to several serious crimes were also detained in Georgia.
We are continuing to collect evidence related to all known offenses and identify everyone involved. Work is underway to bring the alleged organizer to justice,Alpys said.
Original author: Ruslan Loginov
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