Wild Arman Speaks about January Events

Arman Dzhumageldiyev, one of the most famous criminal authorities of Kazakhstan, nicknamed Wild Arman, answered questions from the pre-trial detention centre for Orda.kz.

Arman Dzhumageldiev is a very ambiguous person. He, at the age of 38, has undoubtedly entered the history of both Old and New Kazakhstan. Orda's editorial board, through lawyers, sent questions to Wild Arman. He is now being held in the pre-trial detention centre of the DKNB of Almaty. We present his answers almost uncut in a "question–answer" format.

We asked many questions that concerned both the events of Bloody January and his past. We did not expect him to answer them. Orda would like to make it clear that we had no intention of whitewashing Arman Dzhumageldiyev. Just like everyone else, we want to shed light on the events that affected every citizen of Kazakhstan.

Orda.kz Q: What really happened at the hotel "Kazakhstan" and how did you end up there? Kairat Kudaibergen was next to you in the video. What is your relationship with him?

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: I can say the following about the hotel "Kazakhstan". On January 5, 2022, in the evening, one of the guys who were next to me told me that Kairat Kudaibergen was gathering everyone who cared about the future of the country at the Kazakhstan Hotel. Then I went there. When I arrived, a lot of people had already gathered there: athletes, businessmen, deputies, the akim, the prosecutor, prominent figures, and just volunteers. And there I met Kairat Kudaibergen for the second time. After that, we all went to the restaurant of the hotel "Kazakhstan Ballroom", where we began to discuss the situation in Almaty and how to deal with looters.

Everyone shouted their opinion, and someone from the crowd claimed that he had seen people in the square handing out weapons. Then I asked him: "Can you identify them, the people?" To which he replied: "I can." I asked the guys to go with him to the square and detain these provocateurs.

Kairat Kudaibergen said that we should go to the square to clean up the garbage. To which, someone suggested putting up yurts, distributing food and hot tea, thereby calming the protesters in order to get them to be peaceful. I agreed with him and offered to gather people and conduct explanatory work among the protesters to stop the disorder, unite and start a peaceful dialogue with the state.

I also wanted to figure out among the crowd the provocateurs and initiators who incited people to riot. To resolve the entire emergency situation in Almaty, to avoid numerous civilian casualties and loss of independence. [Regarding - Ed.] everything that happened at the hotel "Kazakhstan" and what I spoke about – there are videos and witness statements.

Arman Dzhumageldiev: Volunteers brought those looters and criminals who were detained at crime scenes to the hotel "Kazakhstan". Among them were rapists, robbers, robbers, provocateurs and representatives of the DVK [Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan – a socio-political movement recognized as extremist in the Republic of Kazakhstan – Ed.]. And all these people, in my opinion, were under the influence of drugs and alcohol intoxication.

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: Due to the fact that at that time there were no law enforcement agencies, 102 [An emergency line in Kazakhstan - Ed.] wasn't working, we had to keep the captured people in the hotel "Kazakhstan". I think the volunteers brought looters to the hotel because there were no law enforcement agencies at that time, but the hotel was the only place where civilians were protected and food was distributed. The staff prepared hot food and distributed it to everyone in need. At this difficult time for the country, I organized the distribution of food for those in need and affected Kazakhstanis. This is confirmed by numerous video materials and witness statements.

Some detainees were interrogated, weapons, narcotic drugs and stolen, in my opinion, items were seized from them. Some volunteers beat the detainees in the heat of the moment, and I asked them not to touch them, as I understood that they were under the influence of narcotic substances, shouting obscene language and not registering their actions. I asked the volunteers to coordinate all actions with the prosecutor, who was at the hotel "Kazakhstan" at that time.

While in "Kazakhstan", I urged people not to succumb to provocations, as there were many peaceful citizens among the protesters who hopefully came to the square for the sake of big changes, reforms and improvement of social life. We handed over all the detainees to the authorities as soon as possible.

I want to draw attention to the fact that I first met Kairat Kudaibergen on January 5 last year on the square near the Independence Monument, where he came up to me, and greeted me – it was at that moment that we met. He also called on the protesters to stop the riots.

Orda.kz: There are real people who were detained and taken to the hotel "Kazakhstan", and they claim that you personally beat them. What really happened there?

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: According to the volunteers, everyone who was detained at the crime scene was brought to the Kazakhstan Hotel. For my part, I called on everyone who cares about the fate of the country to fight against looters and provocateurs who attacked the building of the police department, akimat, presidential residence and security forces. At that moment, the provocateurs were distributing the narcotic analgesic "Tramadol" and weapons to those present and called for the overthrow of the current constitutional order through the bloodshed of civilians and law enforcement agencies. All these facts, which are on the video, are confirmed by witness testimony.

I personally did not detain anyone, but I do not deny that at some points I questioned the captured looters and supporters of the DVK in order to find out where their headquarters were located, where they got weapons, narcotic substances, whether they are connected with terrorists. At that time, it was announced that 20 thousand terrorists had entered the territory of Kazakhstan. And I asked them questions: are they connected with Ablyazov because I consider him the main terrorist of our republic.

I hit some of them, one of them was under the influence of drugs because he was not all there and shouted that he would die for Ablyazov. Another, according to volunteers, was caught – he tried to rape a little girl, but he was stopped and brought to the hotel "Kazakhstan". I kicked him a couple of times in the heat of the moment.

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: My lawyers have petitioned many times to conduct face-to-face questioning with victims and with people whose testimony differs from mine. I was ready to prove to everyone where they committed crimes, where they were detained, that tramadol, weapons, protective equipment (helmets, bulletproof vests, shields) belonging, in my opinion, to police officers or the military were seized from them. However, the head of the IITF [Interdepartmental Investigative Task Force - Ed.] responded to the petition of my lawyers that I have no contradictions with anyone.

In my opinion, the head of the IITF understands that if the investigation is conducted comprehensively and objectively, then all my arguments will be confirmed. Then it would have turned out that in February 2022, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan misled the Parliament and the people of Kazakhstan when he came out and declared me guilty that I detained innocent people, attacked administrative buildings, was the instigator of mass riots, and I had nothing to lose.

The most important violation on the part of the Prosecutor General is the presumption of innocence provided for by the Constitution and the International Covenant, according to which a person is considered innocent of committing a crime until his guilt is recognized by a verdict that has entered into force. And this is the basic law that the body of inquiry should protect. However, the prosecutor's office grossly violates it by declaring me guilty of crimes.

After the above violations by the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, I believe that there can be no comprehensive and fair investigation. And the head of the IITF, being a special prosecutor, in my opinion, was engaged in falsification of the case for all 11 months of the investigation, threatening, intimidating, forcing participants in the criminal case to give false testimony, thereby adjusting the official version of the investigation to the speech of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

There are numerous facts and confirmations of my words. Somehow, miraculously, the looters who were in the pre-trial detention centre, 7-10 days after my detention, turned into injured civilians. I understand that they had little choice: either to be a marauder and stay in prison or to become a victim and be released.

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: I think that even if they were innocent, the legal assessment of their actions was given by employees from ACOH [Almaty City Operational Headquarters – Ed.], since it was their employees who put the looters in the IVS, and then after the investigator's interrogation, where the looters, according to my information, confessed to the crimes committed. As far as I know, the ACOH included employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the KNB, the DEI [Department of Economic Investigations – Ed.] and the military. According to the logic of the IITF's head, then criminal cases should have been initiated against all participants of the ACOH, since they closed innocent people in a temporary detention facility.

Based on the above, what should be the claims against me from the head of the IITF and the investigation as a whole? After all, every crime has a motive and intent. What is my motive to detain "innocent" people and transfer them to ACOH?

I also want to note that in order to discredit me for the whole country, the investigative and prosecutor's offices accused me that a person died at my hands, although they are well aware that there are witness statements, videos from the storage unit and expertise, which indicate that the person died on January 7, 2022 at the headquarters of the security forces at the airport. In this case, a trial is currently underway against employees who are suspected of the death of this person. Knowing this fact, the head of the IITF and the representative of the Prosecutor General's Office make me out to be a criminal and the organizer of mass riots.

I understand that the focus of attention was shifted to me in order to create a negative opinion in society, thereby covering up the real murderers and provocateurs responsible for the bloodshed of civilians.

I have a lot of questions for the investigation as well as to the Prosecutor General's Office… Where are those who attacked the building of the police department, akimat, presidential residence, airport, hospitals, shops, shopping centers and security forces? Why are they silent about them? Who are these people? Who led them?

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: I am surprised by the deputies who, after listening to the Prosecutor General, did not correct him, saying that he violated my constitutional rights, showing his incompetence and ignorance of the Basic Law, of which they are representatives. In a word, George Orwell's "Animal Farm".

Orda.kz: They say about you that you worked for the National Security Committee. The ex-head of the fifth department of the KNB, Ruslan Iskakov, who was engaged in counterintelligence support for law enforcement agencies, is now testifying that Samat Abish ordered him to rescue police officers in Almaty, and for this he needed to involve you. Did he contact you?

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: I can explain my being acquainted with Iskakov Ruslan. On January 5, 2022, at lunchtime, Iskakov called me and asked me to go to the square in order to save people from the akimat, among whom were police officers. I agreed to help because I understood that if the head of the fifth directorate of the National Security Committee is asking to rescue hostages, it means that the situation is critical and Kazakhstan is under threat, we could lose our country's independence, as the security forces did not control the situation. I considered it my duty to go to the square, rescue the hostages and stop the riots.

By the time I arrived at the square, the akimat was already on fire. I asked the guys to go to the akimat and see if there were hostages there, but there was no one there, except for the crowd that took out things. I saw people on the square, some of them were armed and wearing bulletproof vests, which they took away from the police officers. There was complete chaos, no one was listening to anyone, everything was destroyed and burned. Some provocateurs on a fire truck urged people to attack the police department, the airport and other administrative buildings.

On the square, the crowd of protesters was divided. Some attacked police officers, others called for the overthrow of the state system, others stood near the monument and shouted: "Shal ket!", [Get out old man - Ed.] the fourth [group - Ed.] attacked the residence, the fifth one robbed restaurants and took out alcoholic beverages, the sixth one were walking about with weapons in their hands, helmets and shields, which were taken away from police officers.

After everything I saw, I felt that the only way to stop the riots was to unite and calm down all the protesters in order to direct them to a peaceful course, as well as to establish a dialogue between the authorities and the protesters. I planned to identify provocateurs and terrorists among the protesters, who, hiding behind peaceful protesters, pushed them to mass riots to overthrow the current government.

I started speaking to the crowd, urging them not to listen to provocateurs, not to attack administrative buildings, not to beat police officers, as they are the same citizens of Kazakhstan and our brothers. I told them: if you want the authorities to hear you, stop the riots and come to a peaceful dialogue, otherwise all this can lead to numerous civilian casualties and the loss of the country's sovereignty.

I suggested calling the elders or going out to the leaders or creating a people's council, which will enter into a dialogue with the authorities, touching on social problems, including the write-off of loans, the resolution of the issue of recycling, and raising salaries.

Many people listened and supported me, after which I got 500 people to leave the attack on the residence. The volunteers and I rescued four employees who were surrounded by a crowd, and they were in the car at that moment. But some representatives of the DVK, seeing that the protesters support me and agree with my arguments, began shouting that they would not listen to me, that I work for the KNB and [that I am - Ed.] Nazarbayev's man.

These people's goal was to discredit me in front of the people. They wanted to prevent a peaceful dialogue. Because, in my opinion, the provocateurs wanted to overthrow the current government. Because of this, at that time I had a conflict with these people when I told the people not to listen to DVK and Ablyazov because he is a real "k … s" [male sexual organ in Kazakh – Ed.]. After that, the protesters split up, most of whom supported me, and they asked that representatives of the authorities come.

After that, I called Ruslan Iskakov and asked if the employees of the akimat could come out to the protesters. I said I would guarantee their safety. I felt that in this way it was possible to peacefully resolve this conflict and stop the riots that were happening in Almaty. Iskakov replied to me that no one would come, everyone was afraid for their lives, no one wanted to take responsibility.

Then I left the square for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. I want to draw attention to the fact that Iskakov explained that the request did not come from him personally, but from the entire leadership of ACOH. I think that if I had not been attacked by provocateurs and representatives of the DVK party, I would have been able to unite the protesters and stop the riots. It was possible to avoid numerous civilian casualties and the entry of CSTO troops into the country to suppress riots, which by itself is a humiliation for all law enforcement agencies of the country. And in the end, it led to a Bloody January.

Orda.kz: Iskakov also says that the head of the DKNB in Almaty, Nurlan Mazhilov, asked to involve you in protecting hospitals?

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: On January 6, 2022, at about 23:00, Ruslan Iskakov called me and informed me that the 12th City Hospital and the Council of Ministers [Central Clinical Hospital in Almaty - Ed.] had been attacked, and asked for help in protecting these medical institutions. I agreed because I understood my duty of honour to protect my homeland.

I sent volunteers there to guard and protect the hospitals. Doctors and employees who thanked us have videos of the volunteers' actions. In his interview with the human rights activist, Vadim Kuramshin, the head of the security service of the 12th city hospital told in detail how the volunteers protected and helped guard the hospital so that the doctors could do their duty.

On January 7, 2022, after an attack, I arrived at the hospital with an injured head and knife cuts. Then I offered my help to the doctors and told them that they could come to the hotel "Kazakhstan" for food and hot food.

Orda.kz : Tell us about those people whom you allegedly drove around the city and then handed over to the KNB.

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: I didn't take them anywhere, a man from the KNB came and took them away. Why the KNB? Yes, because none of the law enforcement officers was there at that time. We called 102, and I appealed to everyone, and to the prosecutor, who was with us at that time, to help transport the looters. However, there were no policemen. They came only once to the Ritz-Carlton hotel in a civilian car, when they saw the detained looters there, they refused to take them, as there was nowhere to take them.

I understood that I was assuming the function of the security forces since at that time there was a state of emergency, and there was no one from the authorities, I considered it my civic duty to take responsibility and be on guard for the law, and protect peaceful people. Since this time was very difficult for the country.

Orda.kz : How and where were you detained?

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: On January 7, I was in the restaurant of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which is located on the 25th floor. A waitress came up to us and informed us that there were special forces officers in my hotel room. I went down to find out the reason for their visit. At that moment, the special forces officers strapped with machine guns began shouting that operation "Anti-terror" was underway, and we were put on the ground.

When I was lying on the floor, Deputy of the Almaty PD, Berik [Abilbekov – Ed.], came up to me and said that he had nothing against me, this was a personal order of the minister, and a military plane was waiting for me at the airport to take us to Astana. After that, they put a bag on my head, wrapped a chain around my whole body and took me to the airport by an APC.

There they started beating me with batons and a stun gun, and then they put me on a plane, where they continued to beat me. After arriving in Astana, they brought me in chains to the DKNB pre-trial detention centre, where I was also beaten. The next day I was transferred to the IVS of the Astana PD. The head of the Criminal Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan talked to me there.

He accused me of organizing riots and informed me that Karim Massimov was in the next cell and asked me to testify against him. If I do, he promised to release me. He also asked me to decide who I was with: with the Ministry of Internal Affairs or with traitors from the KNB. To which I replied that I was neither with those nor with others. I went to the square for the sake of my country and did my duty. I said that if Karim Massimov or other persons are involved in the riots, then you can shoot them if they are really traitors to their Homeland.

In the IVS, I refused to testify and from all investigative actions. I threatened them that I would cut my wrists if the beatings didn't stop, after which everything calmed down.

I didn't give a single statement until I was brought to Almaty. The staff of the Prosecutor's office came to me at the DKNB pre-trial detention centre, who promised that there would be a fair and comprehensive investigation into me and the January events. But in fact, everything turned out to be completely different. The investigation was conducted one-sidedly, with an accusatory bias, evidence was falsified, and witnesses and suspects were intimidated in order to take the testimony they needed from them. There was a feeling that the investigation was conducted not for the January events, but for my past cases in 2005 and 2016.

Orda.kz: You were in the thick of things in January. Based on everything that happened, what you saw then and know now, what do you think, who was behind the organization of the riots? What do you think about the role of the Family?

Arman Dzhumageldiyev: If Massimov is made an organizer, then it is obvious that this person does nothing without Nazarbayev's knowledge. After all, this is a very serious figure who obeyed only him. After the riots began, all law enforcement agencies were absent in the city, including the KNB, the prosecutor's office, the Interior Ministry and security forces in general. And it is clear that in this emergency situation in the country, as the head of the Security Council of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev headed all law enforcement agencies. And if Massimov is guilty, then Nazarbayev is the organizer. 2*2=4. It's obvious.

But my opinion is still this: the reasons for the January events were 30 years of slavery and lawlessness on the part of officials, government agencies, security forces, as well as corruption in all structures of the country. The people are already tired of all this. After all, Kazakhstan is one of the richest countries in natural resources, and ordinary people are destitute. And, unfortunately, a small group of provocateurs, the DVK and Ablyazov, against whom I fought, took advantage of the people's discontent. Unfortunately, neither our false opposition nor the local executive body in the person of the akim came to the square to listen to the people and prevent civilian casualties.

The authorities could honestly apologize to the people and admit that during these 30 years, a narrow circle of the oligopoly, which is related to the Family, has been enriched with all the people's resources. Which everyone knew perfectly well.

And as a result, law enforcement agencies are looking for the culprits… and, according to the logic of our valiant security forces, Wild Arman is to blame. Although they left the city unprotected and ran away. And they justify their cowardice with 20 thousand non-existent terrorists.

Original Author: Orda

DISCLAIMER: This is a translation. Please refer to the original interview for accuracy.