Kazakh Police General Kudebaev Flees Country To Evade Trial
The former chief of police of Kazakhstan’s southern region of Almaty, General Serik Kudebaev, has fled the country to evade a trial on charges of abusing his office in a case related to the deadly mass unrest that rocked the nation in January last year.
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Kudebaev was accused of using excessive force and ordering his subordinates to do the same during protests in January 2020, which resulted in 11 deaths and over 100 injuries. He was also charged with embezzlement and abuse of power for personal gain. Kudebaev claims that the charges against him are politically motivated and part of a wider crackdown on dissent in the country.
Kazakhstan has been ruled by President Nursultan Nazarbayev since 1991, and his successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev since 2019. Critics accuse the government of suppressing opposition and dissent, and cracking down on civil society and independent media. The government denies these claims and says it is committed to democratic reform.
Kudebaev is the latest in a string of senior officials to flee the country, including former mayor of Almaty, Viktor Khrapunov, who is wanted on charges of corruption and embezzlement.
