Ablyazov's former head of security seeks political asylum in Spain

Alexandr Pavlov ©interpol.int

Mukhtar Ablyazov’s former head of security has asked Spain for political asylum, Tengrinews reports citing Deutsche Welle.

Consideration of the asylum request of Alexandr Pavlov, who served as head of security of former Kazakh BTA chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov who was arrested in France and charged with $6 billion worth of fraud, could take several months. According to the representative of the Spanish branch of AI Luis Gomez, the former bodyguard of Mukhtar Ablyazov "hopes not only to be granted asylum, but to also to find a job in Spain." In addition, Pavlov would like to "move here with all his family, who are still in Kazakhstan."

Accused in Kazakhstan of terrorism and fraudulently obtaining a €22.5 million loan from BTA Bank, Pavlov is known in his homeland as a confidant of Mukhtar Ablyazov. Pavlov arrived in Spain in December 2012. Kazakhstan then filed an extradition request and a Spanish court approved it in July last year. In February this year the decision was confirmed by the Spanish government.

Mukhtar Ablyazov’s former head of security has asked Spain for political asylum, Tengrinews reports citing Deutsche Welle.

Consideration of the asylum request of Alexandr Pavlov, who served as head of security of former Kazakh BTA chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov who was arrested in France and charged with $6 billion worth of fraud, could take several months. According to the representative of the Spanish branch of AI Luis Gomez, the former bodyguard of Mukhtar Ablyazov "hopes not only to be granted asylum, but to also to find a job in Spain." In addition, Pavlov would like to "move here with all his family, who are still in Kazakhstan."

Accused in Kazakhstan of terrorism and fraudulently obtaining a €22.5 million loan from BTA Bank, Pavlov is known in his homeland as a confidant of Mukhtar Ablyazov. Pavlov arrived in Spain in December 2012. Kazakhstan then filed an extradition request and a Spanish court approved it in July last year. In February this year the decision was confirmed by the Spanish government.

However, Pavlov was released from a Madrid prison on bail pending trial on 1 August, 2014. Deutsche Welle reports that pressure from human rights activists (from UN, Amnesty International and Open Dialog) could have played its role.

Mukhtar Ablyazov himself is accused of financial crimes and fraud totaling $6 billion. He is sought after by Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine. He was arrested in France in July 2013. A French court decided to extradite Mukhtar Ablyazov to either Russia or Ukraine but the extradition case was then sent for a retrial after an error was found in the trial documents - Ablyazov's signature was missing on several papers. The new hearings are rescheduled for September 2014.

By Dinara Urazova

Spain Asia asylum Central Asia CIS Europe extradition Kazakh Kazakhstan news Ablyazov