General Prosecutor's Office clarifies statement on Kazakhstan nationals facing capital punishment in UAE

©Marat Abilov

The General Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan has explained the recent statement about Kazakhstan nationals who may face a capital punishment in the UAE, Tengrinews reports. "Telling the journalists about the steps taken by the supervisory authorities to ensure extradition of several Kazakhstan nationals from the United Arab Emirates, First Deputy Prosecutor General Iogan Merkel meant the Kazakhstan citizens that were on the Interpol wanted list for the crimes they committed in Kazakhstan," the message says. "These people are wanted for different crimes, including murder, financial fraud, leading an organized crime group and so on. No positive decisions on the extradition of any of the 10 people has been made so far," Merkel said in an interview earlier. "But that statement had no connection with the other Kazakhstan nationals, who were arrested by the UAE authorities in October 2013 for unclear reasons," the General Prosecutor's Office said. According to the Prosecution Office, the misunderstanding arose when the journalists asked about the extradition of those 12 Kazakhstan nationals arrested in October from the Emirates. The question of extradition is inappropriate in this case, because this group of Kazakhstan nationals is not eligible for extradition: they are being prosecuted by the UAE law enforcement authorities not by Kazakhstan's authorites. The General Prosecution Office of Kazakhstan reminded that on November 20 KTK Channel broadcasted a report about 12 Kazakhstan nationals, detained in the UAE. The report said that the arrested Kazakhstan nationals may face a capital punishment.

The General Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan has explained the recent statement about Kazakhstan nationals who may face a capital punishment in the UAE, Tengrinews reports. "Telling the journalists about the steps taken by the supervisory authorities to ensure extradition of several Kazakhstan nationals from the United Arab Emirates, First Deputy Prosecutor General Iogan Merkel meant the Kazakhstan citizens that were on the Interpol wanted list for the crimes they committed in Kazakhstan," the message says. "These people are wanted for different crimes, including murder, financial fraud, leading an organized crime group and so on. No positive decisions on the extradition of any of the 10 people has been made so far," Merkel said in an interview earlier. "But that statement had no connection with the other Kazakhstan nationals, who were arrested by the UAE authorities in October 2013 for unclear reasons," the General Prosecutor's Office said. According to the Prosecution Office, the misunderstanding arose when the journalists asked about the extradition of those 12 Kazakhstan nationals arrested in October from the Emirates. The question of extradition is inappropriate in this case, because this group of Kazakhstan nationals is not eligible for extradition: they are being prosecuted by the UAE law enforcement authorities not by Kazakhstan's authorites. The General Prosecution Office of Kazakhstan reminded that on November 20 KTK Channel broadcasted a report about 12 Kazakhstan nationals, detained in the UAE. The report said that the arrested Kazakhstan nationals may face a capital punishment.

United Arab Emirates news Middle East & Africa Kazakhstan Kazakh extradition crime capital punishment