Former Kazakh Interior Minister Arrested in Connection with 238 Deaths During Unrest

Former Interior Minister Erlan Turgumbaev has been arrested in Kazakhstan. This move is linked to the events of January 2022, according to the Russian service of the BBC.

The media outlet, citing the Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan, reports that Turgumbaev has been detained. This is part of an investigation into the January 2022 events, when mass protests and clashes with police in Almaty and other cities resulted in at least 238 deaths.

The Prosecutor's Office stated that Turgumbaev is suspected of abusing his official powers, which led to severe consequences. “Considering that the criminal case contains information classified as state secrets, other pre-investigation data cannot be disclosed,” the Prosecutor's Office reported.

Following the January events, Turgumbaev was dismissed from his position as head of the Interior Ministry of Kazakhstan.