Qirsabyn Case: New Charge Added in Telegram Extortion Investigation

The investigation into the Qirsabyn Telegram channel has taken a new turn, Orda.kz reports.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ response to Orda.kz, the case is being handled by both the National Security Committee (KNB) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Although officers from the Financial Monitoring Agency were involved in detaining the suspects, the agency itself is not part of the investigation.

Initially, the KNB was investigating the case under Article 194 of the Criminal Code — extortion.

However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has now added Article 147 — violation of the inviolability of private life. This new charge had not been officially confirmed until now.

Within the framework of the criminal case, the necessary investigative actions are being carried out aimed at ensuring the completeness and objectivity of the pre-trial investigation, based on the results of which a procedural decision will be made,
the Ministry stated in its reply.

The administrators of Qirsabyn were detained on December 18, 2024. Investigators believe they blackmailed public figures, demanding money in exchange for not publishing damaging personal information.

Orda.kz learned that the case was launched following a complaint by a well-known TV presenter and Instagram influencer. She claims the channel's admins demanded $3,000 not to reveal stories about her private life. Even after payment, the threats continued, prompting her to contact the authorities.

Qirsabyn has nearly 110,000 subscribers and is known for posts about celebrities, influencers, and public figures, often focused on gossip, some are reportedly fabricated.

Original Author: Dinara Bekbolayeva