Mukhtar Ablyazov, the ex-head of BTA Bank convicted in absentia in Kazakhstan, has achieved the termination of the trial against him in France. The reason for this was the expiration of the statute of limitations in the case of abuse of trust and money laundering.
The verdict was handed down by the Paris Court of Appeal. However, according to AFP, the decision is not final – the bank’s lawyers filed a cassation appeal.
Criminal cases have been initiated against Ablyazov in Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, including fraud, forgery of documents, abuse of authority. The Kazakh authorities accuse the fugitive banker of embezzling 7.5 billion dollars. He was put on the international wanted list and detained in France.
In early January, Mukhtar Ablyazov called himself the leader of the protests in Kazakhstan. He stated that he sees himself as the leader of the opposition and that the protesters are contacting him.