Former Kazakh official arrested in Uzbekistan for illegal border crossing

Timur Sadvakasov, the former deputy governor of Aktau, Kazakhstan, who was on the international wanted list for fraud and bribery, has been detained in Uzbekistan while attempting to illegally cross the border.

Photo: Tengrinews

Sadvakasov had previously crossed from Kazakhstan into Kyrgyzstan and was apprehended by local border guards while trying to enter Uzbekistan.

Sadvakasov now faces a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years in Uzbekistan, as local laws impose such penalties for conspiring with others to illegally cross the state border.

The deputy governor is suspected of involvement in corruption related to the activities of Tioline LLP, a company developing the "Obukhovskoye" rare earth metal deposit in North Kazakhstan. According to the investigation, one of the company’s shareholders, Viktor Dolgalev, violated the law in his business activities, including engaging in illegal entrepreneurship and unauthorized use of subsoil resources.

While Dolgalev was initially acquitted, the verdict was later overturned, and the case was sent for a retrial in a different region. The investigation suggests that Dolgalev sought assistance from officials, including Sadvakasov, to resolve his legal issues. The deputy mayor is accused of fraud and inciting bribery.

After learning that he was a suspect, Sadvakasov attempted to flee.