Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) has issued an official response regarding the case of Professor Ikboljon Koraboev, detained in Astana. The agency confirmed that the Uzbek side was notified through diplomatic channels but declined to disclose details of the pre-trial investigation, citing Article 201 of the republic's Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibits the disclosure of investigative materials, reports infohub.kz.
The response came following a request from the publication "Kursiv." The KNB noted that, in accordance with Kazakh law, the Uzbek side was officially notified via diplomatic channels. However, the committee did not disclose Koraboev's procedural status, the article of the criminal case, or the suspicions against him.
Earlier, the BBC reported on the detention of the 46-year-old Uzbek citizen, who taught international relations at Maqsut Narikbayev University in Astana. According to the outlet, he has been in custody since July 3. A source close to the professor said that several people in civilian clothes came to his home and stated he was suspected of espionage. Relatives link the case to Article 176 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Code ("Espionage"), but the KNB has not officially confirmed this information.
Koraboev lived in Astana with his wife and three minor children. Prior to his detention, he conducted research in international relations, regional integration, and critical mineral resources. Shortly before his arrest, the professor prepared a study titled "Comparative Legal, Political, and Strategic Narratives Around Critical Minerals in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," which, according to the BBC, had not yet been published. The work analyzed documents from both countries on the topic. The outlet noted that it was not possible to confirm a link between his academic work and the detention.
The KNB did not specify what Koraboev is suspected of or under which article the case is being investigated, limiting itself to stating that a pre-trial investigation is underway and that the Uzbek side has been notified. Earlier, "Kursiv" reported that a Kazakh citizen was detained in Germany on suspicion of intelligence activities. Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry confirmed his citizenship and said the detention occurred on April 29. According to German investigators, the man is suspected of passing information about defense industry enterprises, filming military equipment and state facilities. He did not contact Kazakhstan's embassy or consulate.