Prosecutor General's Office Commented on Dina Tansari's Case

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstan has confirmed that Dinara Smailova, also known as Dina Tansari and founder of the NeMolchi.kz foundation, was detained in Montenegro on April 14, Orda.kz reports.

According to authorities, Smailova is suspected of committing fraud as part of an organized group. Investigators allege that she misused public trust to obtain funds from Kazakhstan's citizens unlawfully.

Six criminal cases have been initiated against her in Kazakhstan, involving charges related to the dissemination of knowingly false information, privacy violations, and two separate episodes of fraud.

The cases are being handled by police departments in Almaty, East Kazakhstan, and Almaty regions.

One case concerns a fundraising campaign launched after a reported suicide attempt by a girl in Oskemen.

Smailova allegedly collected over 20 million tenge to support legal assistance for the family. However, investigators claim that the family paid for the lawyer independently and that the collected funds were partially used for business travel.

Another case involves fundraising for a minor reportedly subjected to violence in the Almaty region. Authorities state that the incident was not confirmed, and several million tenge were transferred to a bank card belonging to Smailova’s husband.

According to the investigation, financial records show that funds were deposited into accounts not linked to the NeMolchi foundation and were used for personal expenses abroad.

The Prosecutor General’s Office added that while continuing to act as the foundation’s founder, Smailova made public appeals for donations on behalf of alleged victims. However, seven individuals have since filed complaints claiming they were misled.

Her actions have been classified under Article 190, Part 4, Clause 2 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code  — fraud on an especially large scale. A court authorized her arrest, and she was placed on an international wanted list.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that Smailova was located in Montenegro, prompting an extradition request. However, Montenegrin authorities declined the request, citing the absence of an extradition agreement between the two countries.

The Prosecutor General’s Office emphasized that efforts to hold Smailova accountable will continue, while noting that further details cannot be disclosed in the interests of the investigation.

Original Auhtor: Olga Ibraeva