The first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, admitted that he is waiting for the end of the trial of the former head of the National Security committee (KNB), Karim Masimov, to find out who is behind him in the treason case. He stated this at a polling station in Astana Opera, while casting a ballot in the early presidential elections in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews reports.
“I am also very interested in this, I am also waiting for the end of the investigation and trial. What was the cause and who is behind it. Very hard. Massmov worked with me for many years, but how do you know if Jesus Christ knew Judas sitting next to him? We are not gods. Therefore, we will see the end of the trial and we all, I think, will find out the truth,” Nazarbayev said.
Former head of the KNB Karim Masimov and three of his former deputies were detained after the unrest that swept the country in early January.
Shortly before this, Masimov was dismissed from the post of chairman of the KNB, which he had held since September 2016. He was considered one of the most influential and close to the former President Nursultan Nazarbayev people in the country.
Masimov in different years served as prime minister, head of administration and assistant to the president of Kazakhstan.
On November 7, Masimov's case, which was classified as "secret", was submitted to the court. He is charged with articles on high treason, violent seizure of power, abuse of power.
Another question journalists posed to former President Nazarbayev was about the fairness of the sentence given to his nephew, Kairat Satybaldy, who was sentenced to six years in prison in September in an embezzlement case.
“I think that the decision of the court was fair. The person who thinks the decision was not fair should file a complaint. Whatever the case, the person must file a complaint. In any case, everything will be decided through the courts,” Tengrinews.kz quotes Nazarbayev’s response.
On November 20, early presidential elections are held in Kazakhstan. Six candidates are vying for the post of head of state, including incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 21, 2022