Former Kazakh presidential adviser’s killer jailed for 11 years

A court in Astana has sentenced a man to 11 years in prison for the killing of former presidential adviser Yerzhan Babakumarov, with the verdict now in force.

According to Kazakh media, the case was heard by the Specialised Interdistrict Criminal Court of Astana. The proceedings were conducted behind closed doors, and detailed information about the trial has not been disclosed. The defendant was found guilty under Part 1 of Article 99 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to murder.

“The defendant was sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment,” the court stated.

The killing took place on October 30. Police said Babakumarov became involved in a verbal dispute with a 36-year-old acquaintance, which escalated into a physical altercation.

“The conflict escalated into a fight. As a result, the 56-year-old man sustained injuries incompatible with life and died,” the police department said.

The suspect was detained shortly after the incident and placed in a temporary detention facility.

Babakumarov had a long career in public service. He began working in the 1990s in the office of the mayor of Almaty, later moving to the presidential administration, where he oversaw domestic policy and headed the information center under Nursultan Nazarbayev.

In 2006, he was appointed Vice Minister of Culture and subsequently worked in the office of Prime Minister Karim Massimov.

In 2019, he joined the administration of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as an adviser. Prior to the January unrest, he served as deputy mayor of Almaty and later left the post alongside Bakytzhan Sagintayev. His final position was Director of the Central Communications Service under the President.

Babakumarov was 56 years old at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.

By Tamilla Hasanova