Azamat Tazhayakov refuses to frame Dias Kadyrbaev in exchange for freedom

Photo © AP Photo/Jane Flavell Collins

Parents of Azamat Tazhayakov, found guilty of obstructing justice in the Boston bombings case, hope to arrange their son’s transfer to Kazakhstan. Amir Ismagulov, the father of the Kazakhstani student in Boston, talked about the hearing to KTK Channel, Tengrinews reports.

Parents of Azamat Tazhayakov, found guilty of obstructing justice in the Boston bombings case, hope to arrange their son’s transfer to Kazakhstan. Amir Ismagulov, the father of the Kazakhstani student in Boston, talked about the hearing to KTK Channel, Tengrinews reports.

On July 21, the jury found 20 y.o. Tazhayakov guilty of obstructing justice. The jury almost unanimously supported the version that Azamat took Tsarnaev’s backpack from his room. Judge Douglas Woodlock could sentence Tazhayakov to the maximum 25 years of imprisonment for obstructing justice and conspiracy. The sentence is due October 16.

Meanwhile, Ismagulov said that it was still too early to talk about extradition. “As for deportation, only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan can work on that and we certainly will appeal to them,” Ismagulov said.

Tazhayakov’s lawyers will file an appeal against the court decision before August 22. The appeal will be examined only in September.

Ismagulov said that his family was still in shock after his son was found guilty. “His mother is crying day and night. We are asking our lawyers who said that it was a 100% winning case how this could possibly happen. There is no logic behind all this,” the father said.

Amir Ismagulov also shared that in June the prosecutors four times insistently offered Azamat freedom if he frames his friend Dias Kadyrbayev. “I want all the Kazakhstanis to know that in June, U.S. prosecutors approached Azamat four times offering him to frame Dias and say that it was he (Dias) who organised everything and disposed of evidence. They told him 'we will let you return to Kazakhstan'. But Azamat refused. He said, 'I know that neither I nor Dias went there to help Tsarnaev. I am not going to frame my friend. It would be a lie and I would not be able to live with it',” the father said.

The hearing of Azamat Tazhayakov’s case started in the end of July. Dias Kadyrbayev’s trial is scheduled to start on September 8.

Writing by Gyuzel Kamalova, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina