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Khrapunov

Ilyas Khrapunov Found in Contempt by U.S. Federal Court

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has ruled in favor of the city of Almaty and BTA Bank, finding Ilyas Khrapunov guilty of contempt of court. New Verdict in Ongoing Legal Battle Federal Judge John G. Koeltl ruled that Khrapunov had violated a prior court order requiring him to report regularly on his assets. He had previously been ordered to pay $221,285.31 in sanctions. “After an independent review, the Court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s findings, which are well-founded and support a finding of civil contempt,” the judge’s statement reads. “Although Khrapunov has demonstrated an inability to pay the $221,285.31 judgment against him at this time, Khrapunov has failed to comply with the clear and unambiguous court order to submit quarterly declarations regarding his financial status.” The latest ruling reaffirms Khrapunov's obligation to fully disclose assets and make efforts to satisfy court judgments. It also includes provisions for further financial penalties in the event of non-compliance. Additionally, Khrapunov has been ordered to reimburse Almaty and BTA Bank for legal costs arising from his misconduct. A Central Figure in Corruption Scandals Ilyas Khrapunov is the son of former Almaty mayor Viktor Khrapunov and the son-in-law of fugitive banker Mukhtar Ablyazov, figures long entangled in corruption investigations. The Kazakh authorities have accused members of both families of large-scale embezzlement and money laundering. Viktor Khrapunov fled Kazakhstan in 2008 and has resided in Switzerland ever since. He was sentenced in absentia in 2018 to 17 years in prison for corruption-related offenses, a judgment he disputes. Ilyas Khrapunov also left Kazakhstan shortly beforehand. Almaty and BTA Bank continue to pursue legal action in U.S. and European courts, alleging that Ablyazov and his associates siphoned billions of dollars through offshore entities. Investigators assert that Khrapunov Jr. played a direct role in the schemes. Pattern of Legal Violations In December 2022, the Southern District Court in New York ruled against Ablyazov and his associates in the amount of $218 million. In June 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York awarded over $32 million in damages to BTA Bank and the City of Almaty, following a jury verdict against Khrapunov and Ablyazov’s associates, Felix Sater, Bayrock Group Inc., Global Habitat Solutions, and MeM Energy Partners LLC. The jury found the defendants liable for misappropriation of property, unjust enrichment, and money had and received, affirming fraud and money laundering schemes impacting Kazakh institutions. The plaintiffs estimated the total damage caused by Viktor Khrapunov and his wife, Leila, at over $300 million, including stalled development of city land and the "alienation of properties." In a related case, in September 2018, a UK court fined Ilyas Khrapunov $500 million for violating an asset freeze order in connection with Ablyazov’s fraudulent activities.

Reforms

Insider’s View: From Reform to Rights – Strengthening Uzbekistan’s Legal Foundations

New Uzbekistan is pressing ahead with democratic reforms while pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy, deepening dialogue with the international community, and rolling out reforms that reinforce guarantees for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Within the framework of the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy - now paired with the State Program, “Year of Environmental Protection and the Green Economy” – the authorities are upgrading legal safeguards and institutional mechanisms aimed at protecting citizens’ rights. As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated, “The dreams and aspirations of our people, shaped over centuries through diverse ideas and practical endeavors, are today embodied in the concept of New Uzbekistan.” That vision has coincided with rapid socioeconomic change: GDP has topped $110 billion; preschool enrollment has risen sharply since 2017; higher-education participation has climbed from about 9% in 2017 to roughly 42%; and elite public schools - creative, specialized, and presidential - have taken root. Uzbek athletes placed among the top national teams at recent global competitions, and football milestones at both the youth and senior levels have broadened the country’s international profile. Together, these gains bolster Uzbekistan’s status as a sovereign, democratic, legal, social, and secular state, and as a more reliable partner on the global stage. The Pragmatic Diplomacy of New Uzbekistan Against a backdrop of armed conflicts, environmental emergencies, trade frictions, and evolving security threats, Uzbekistan has worked to strengthen peace and regional stability while educating its youth in the spirit of both national and universal values. In recent years, high-level outreach has rebuilt trust with neighbors and helped popularize concepts such as a “Central Asian spirit” and “Central Asian identity.” The March unveiling of a Friendship Stele at the junction of the Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan borders symbolized this thaw, while cooperation on transit, water and energy exchanges, and security has become more predictable. A “New Central Asia” is taking shape as a unified transport and logistics space. Mutual trade volumes in the region have multiplied, investment flows have increased, and cross-border ventures have expanded. Major projects—from the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway to rising cargo across the Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye corridor—are laying the ground for a trans-continental transit hub. At the same time, Uzbekistan’s convening role has grown. In April 2025, Samarkand hosted the first EU–Central Asia Summit, chaired by President Mirziyoyev and attended by EU leaders and all five Central Asian presidents - an event that elevated ties to a strategic partnership and set a broader agenda on connectivity, critical raw materials, energy, and digital links. Environmental diplomacy has also moved up the agenda. The Samarkand Climate Forum gathered UN deputy secretary generals, heads of major environmental organizations, and experts from dozens of countries, signaling a step-change in the region’s engagement on ecology, desertification, and resilience. The Parliamentary Dimension of New Uzbekistan Tashkent’s rising parliamentary diplomacy culminated in the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, held between 5–9 April 2025 - the first of its kind in Central Asia – which brought together some 2,000 parliamentarians from more than 140 countries, plus over 20 international organizations. The proceedings, themed “Parliamentary Action for Social...

Crime

Kazakhstan Introduces Criminal Liability for Stalking

For the first time, Kazakhstan has established criminal liability for stalking at the legislative level, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office. New Article in the Criminal Code On July 16, 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law amending the Criminal Code to include Article 115-1, titled “Stalking.” The article defines stalking as the unlawful pursuit of an individual through persistent attempts to establish contact or conduct surveillance against their will, causing significant harm but without the use of physical violence. Punishments include a fine of up to 200 monthly calculation indices (MCI), up to 200 hours of community service, or arrest for up to 50 days. If stalking involves threats, blackmail, or invasion of privacy, it may be prosecuted under other provisions of the Criminal Code. “The purpose of introducing this liability is to protect victims at an early stage and to establish zero tolerance for violent and aggressive behavior,” the Prosecutor General’s Office stated. From Proposal to Law The idea to criminalize stalking was first raised in 2023 during a coordination council meeting at the Prosecutor General’s Office. Marat Abishev, head of the Service for the Protection of Public Interests, highlighted the growing prevalence of obsessive harassment, particularly targeting women. “Women are increasingly faced with the phenomenon of stalking, that is, obsessive persecution,” he said. Abishev noted that many countries, including Germany, the US, Canada, the UK, Norway, Poland, Moldova, the Netherlands, and India, have long established criminal penalties for stalking. In contrast, Kazakhstan lacked even administrative regulation until now. Abishev initially proposed studying the issue and introducing relevant amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. However, the country has since taken a stronger stance by enacting full criminal liability. The General Prosecutor’s Office urges citizens not to ignore signs of stalking. “In such situations, it is necessary to immediately contact the internal affairs authorities,” the agency advised. How to Identify Stalking In an interview with MIR24.TV, lawyer Artem Baghdasaryan explained that under the new Kazakh legislation, stalking involves intrusive, repeated attempts to contact or monitor a person against their will, resulting in significant psychological or personal harm but without physical violence. He emphasized that stalking is defined by systematic behavior rather than isolated incidents. Key indicators include: Continuous surveillance near the victim’s home or in public Frequent phone calls, text messages, or unwanted social media interactions Collecting personal data without consent, such as routes or contacts Lurking in public places frequented by the victim Internationally, this list often includes online harassment and the sending of unsolicited gifts. Comparison with International Practice Many Western countries have recognized stalking as a criminal offense since the 1990s, with laws in the US, UK, and Germany carrying prison terms for offenders. In contrast, Russia has not yet adopted a separate criminal statute. There, lawmakers have proposed a phased approach: beginning with administrative liability and restraining orders, followed by criminal prosecution for repeat offenses. “While Kazakhstan has taken a decisive step by introducing a criminal article right away, Russia is moving toward gradual...

Sanctions

Britain Imposes Sanctions on Kyrgyzstan’s Capital Bank, Other Entities

Britain has announced sanctions against Kyrgyzstan-based Capital Bank and its director, Kantemir Chalbayev, as part of a growing crackdown on financial networks allegedly being used by Russia to get around international restrictions and fund the war in Ukraine. The bank has previously denied circumventing such restrictions. “With sanctions continuing to bite, Russia has turned to the Kyrgyz financial sector to channel money through opaque financial networks, including through the use of cryptocurrencies. These networks have created a convoluted scheme to evade sanctions imposed by the UK and its partners,” the Foreign Office said on Wednesday. So-called secondary sanctions also targeted the Grinex and Meer cryptocurrency exchanges, as well as the infrastructure behind the new rouble-backed cryptocurrency token A7A5, which has moved $9.3 billion on a dedicated crypto exchange in just four months, according to the British government. The new round of British sanctions was also applied to the Kyrgyzstani firm Old Vector. The firm collaborated with Garantex, which had created Grinex to evade sanctions, and others in the development of the A7A5 token, according to an Aug. 14 statement by the U.S. Treasury Department that imposed similar measures. In May, state-owned Capital Bank said it was complying with international sanctions regulations. “Since 2023, as part of its risk management policy, Capital Bank has ceased all forms of financial interaction with individuals and legal entities subject to sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom,” the bank said. “This decision was made to protect the financial system of the Kyrgyz Republic from the potential impact of secondary sanctions and to ensure the security of operations for both resident and non-resident clients.” The Foreign Office statement comes as U.S. President Trump tries to end the war in Ukraine through dialogue, meeting last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin and this week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.

Fortune-Telling

Tajikistan Proposes Ban on Fortune-Telling With Fines for Customers

The government of Tajikistan has submitted a legislative proposal to parliament that would ban the use of fortune-telling and other esoteric services, and introduce fines for clients, Asia-Plus reported. If passed, the amendments would add a new clause to Article 482 of the Code of Administrative Offenses titled “Use of services of a sorcerer, magician, or fortune-teller.” Under the proposed law, individuals caught seeking such services would face fines ranging from five to ten calculation indicators, equivalent to 375-750 somoni (approximately $40-80). This initiative is part of a broader crackdown on esoteric and mystical practices in recent years. In mid-2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that citizens who visited fortune-tellers would be summoned by authorities and entered into a database containing their names and photographs. Officials said the goal was to curb demand and ultimately eliminate the practice. The number of individuals summoned has not been disclosed. Penalties for fortune-tellers themselves were significantly strengthened in 2024. Amendments to Article 482 increased fines for practitioners to 80-100 calculation indicators and introduced administrative detention of up to 15 days. In addition, criminal liability was introduced under Article 240 of the Criminal Code: repeat offenders may now face fines of 1,500-2,000 base units or imprisonment for one to two years. Previously, only administrative penalties applied. The government claims the measures are designed to combat fraud and protect citizens from exploitation. However, critics argue that the proposed restrictions could spark debate over personal freedoms and traditional cultural practices. In 2024, The Times of Central Asia reported that Tajik authorities were also considering the introduction of compulsory labor for up to six months as a punishment for engaging in fortune-telling, sorcery, or witchcraft.

Civil Aviation

Kazakhstan Grounds Light Aircraft Following Two Fatal Crashes

Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee, working alongside the Aviation Administration, has temporarily suspended flights of TL-2000 and Aerostar R40F light aircraft following two fatal crashes near Astana in recent months. The suspensions are intended to allow for thorough investigations of both incidents. On June 22, 2025, a privately owned TL-2000 light aircraft crashed during a training flight near Zholaman Airfield, resulting in the deaths of both people on board. The accident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. A special investigation commission was established by the Ministry of Transport to determine the cause. On August 17, 2025, an Aerostar R40F (registration UP-LA229) crashed during a general aviation flight about 55 kilometers from Astana in the Akmola region. The crash resulted in the death of both the pilot and passenger. A commission was dispatched by the Ministry of Transport’s accident investigation department to the crash site, including representatives from the Transport Police and regional authorities. Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev confirmed that each incident is being investigated independently, and that both aircraft models will remain grounded until the investigations conclude. The Civil Aviation Committee, in collaboration with the Aviation Administration, has suspended flights of both TL-2000 and Aerostar R40F aircraft models pending investigation results. The investigation into the June TL-2000 crash is ongoing, with final conclusions expected before the end of 2025.