Shymkent Judge Reprimanded After Making Inappropriate Gesture Toward Journalist

Judge Abinur Karabayev of the Shymkent Specialized Inter-District Criminal Court has been disciplined after making an inappropriate gesture toward journalists, Orda.kz reports.

The incident occurred during a hearing in the case involving the armed attack on former Deputy Akim Ruslan Berdenov. Judge Karabayev stuck his tongue out at reporter Botagoz Omarova.

She caught the moment on camera, and the video quickly spread on social media.

Following the public reaction, the court conducted an internal review. The findings were sent to the Judicial Ethics Commission and later to the Judicial Jury.

According to the Supreme Judicial Council, the Judicial Jury decided to issue Karabayev a formal reprimand.

The task of the Judicial Jury is not to exercise punitive powers over judges, but to promote, through effective disciplinary measures, increased accountability of judges and the strengthening of trust among participants in the judicial process,
 the Council noted.

Karabayev has not publicly commented on the case.

He has presided over several high-profile trials in the past, including the case of former Culture Minister Arystanbek Mukhamediuly and the investigation into the seizure of the Kaspi Bank branch in Astana.

Original Author: Dinara Bekbolayeva