NSC launches probe into Nurlan Saburov

Ulpan Sabi

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (NSC) has begun verification measures with regard to Nurlan Saburov. This was reported by the Committee’s press service.

What happened

The Tengrinews.kz editorial office sent a request to the NSC asking whether Saburov was being checked for possible violations of criminal law, including Article 170 of the Criminal Code.

Reference: Article 170 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code refers to mercenary activities — including recruitment, training, financing or using people in war, armed actions, or attempts to overthrow power and violate a country’s territorial integrity. The penalty ranges from 7 to 12 years in prison.

“The information has been taken into consideration, verification measures are being carried out,” the NSC responded.

Context

Earlier it became known that popular Kazakh comedian Nurlan Saburov was banned from entering Russia for 50 years. It was reported that the decision was made “in the interests of national security, compliance with the law, and the protection of traditional spiritual and moral values.”

The comedian was stopped at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport after returning from Dubai. Saburov refused free deportation back to Dubai and bought a ticket to Kazakhstan. On the morning of 7 February he arrived in Almaty. Shortly after, another host of the show “ChBD” (“What Happened Next?”), Aleksey Shcherbakov, also flew to Almaty.

According to lawyer Aleksandr Haminsky, Saburov may be able to have the entry ban to Russia lifted if he publicly changes his position on Russian politics. The lawyer said the decision to bar the comedian from entering Russia was triggered by Saburov’s public criticism of Russia’s war against Ukraine, his “anti-Russian statements,” as well as systematic violations of migration and tax legislation.

On 8 February Nurlan Saburov commented for the first time on the entry ban to Russia. In his Instagram stories he said he would not discuss the situation publicly — that would be handled by his lawyers.

Saburov recalled that he began his career in Yekaterinburg and continued it in Moscow, and he thanked Russia for the opportunity to develop creatively and for the support of audiences. He asked journalists and bloggers not to interfere in his family’s private life.

Comment from Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry

The situation around Saburov was also commented on by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

“In this case the situation is simple. The person is a citizen of Kazakhstan. If the Russian Federation has made such a decision regarding him, then it is an internal decision of that country, regulated by its legislation. Therefore, it is difficult to comment on what decisions a third state makes,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakaev.

According to him, such bans are not unique.

“I think he is neither the first nor the last to be banned from entering one country or another for a certain period,” the deputy minister noted.

Bakaev added that such issues are handled by each person individually. If necessary, a citizen can hire attorneys or lawyers and challenge the decision in the country that imposed the ban.

Answering a question about Saburov’s property in Russia, the deputy minister stated that such matters are also regulated by the laws of the country where the property is located and are resolved through its courts and competent authorities.