Wild Arman and Co-Defendants Sentenced in January Events Trial

The case of crime boss Arman Dzhumageldiyev entered court over a year ago. Co-defendants include former Almaty maslikhat deputy Kairat Kudaibergen, ex-KNB Colonel Ruslan Iskakov, and others, Orda reports.

Dzhumageldiyev was charged with:

• Organizing mass riots during the January events
• Participating in these riots
• Weapons theft
• Illegal confinement 
  
  

According to investigators, Kudaibergen actively called for others to join Wild Arman.

Prosecutors requested:

• 20 years for Dzhumageldiyev 
• 8 years for Kudaibergen
• 15.5 years for Iskakov (according to our sources)

The court has handed down prison sentences to all three defendants:

• Dzumageldiyev - 20 years, banned from engaging in social and political activities
• Kudaibergen - 8 years, stripped of his "Kurmet" order and banned from social and political activities
• Iskakov - 15 years, stripped of all awards and banned from government service

Several defendants were released as they had already served their terms in pre-trial detention.

The remaining defendants received sentences ranging from 7 to 15 years in prison. More than 40 defendants were involved in the trial.

Arman's lawyers have stated they intend to file an appeal.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin