Tengrinews.kz - Senator and former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Marat Kozhaev has addressed why there are no photo or video materials proving that former Minister of National Economy Kuandyk Bishimbayev is indeed serving his sentence.
Tengrinews.kz - Senator and former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Marat Kozhaev has addressed why there are no photo or video materials proving that former Minister of National Economy Kuandyk Bishimbayev is indeed serving his sentence.
On the sidelines of the Senate, journalists asked Kozhaev why the convicted ex-minister is essentially hidden from public view.
Kozhaev explained that the Committee of Criminal Executive System is not showing Bishimbayev because he has personally requested not to be filmed.
"This is about respecting citizens' rights. Even a citizen serving a sentence retains certain civil rights. If he does not want to be displayed, it's impossible to force him. Excuse my bluntness, but I’ll put it this way as someone from law enforcement: this isn’t a zoo. We should trust the officials; he is being held in a maximum-security facility in Stepnogorsk," Kozhaev stated.
Earlier, reports surfaced online claiming that Bishimbayev could not be located in any Kazakhstani prison colonies. Some journalists speculated that he might be serving his sentence in Stepnogorsk or Arshaly, though media outlets were unable to confirm this.
Later, Telegram channels began circulating rumors that he had supposedly escaped from a correctional facility. The Committee of Criminal Executive System refuted this information, stating that it is "not true." According to the press service, the convict is serving his sentence in a maximum-security facility.