The Specialized Inter-District Court for Criminal Cases of Astana sentenced former Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov to 18 years in prison. He is charged with treason, seizure of power and abuse of power. This is stated in the message of the court. Also, Masimov's property was confiscated in favor of the state in the amount of more than 10 billion tenge and $24 million. He was deprived of the right to hold public office for life.
Three of Massimov's deputies also received prison terms. Anuar Sadykulov was sentenced to 16 years in prison, Daulet Yergozhin was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and Marat Osipov received three years in prison.
Karim Massimov was detained in January 2022 after mass protests that swept Kazakhstan, which began after an increase in gas prices. The protesters demanded the removal of the former head of the republic, Nursultan Nazarbayev, from power. More than 200 people died during the riots. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev removed Masimov from the post of head of the KNB.
To suppress the protests, Tokayev called on the military of the CSTO countries, removed Nazarbayev from the post of head of the Security Council, and deprived many of the first president's relatives of leadership positions.