InfoHub Logo

In a poignant final statement before the court, blogger Elmira Tolegenova expressed deep remorse for her actions and pleaded for leniency for herself and her husband. The legal proceedings against Tolegenova and fellow blogger Yerbolat Zhanabylov are nearing their conclusion.

A Plea for Understanding

Speaking on Friday, April 24th, Tolegenova stated, "We take full responsibility for what happened. We have learned a great lesson for ourselves, this has been a life lesson for us. We sincerely regret breaking the law. I ask that a sentence not involving deprivation of liberty be imposed on me and my husband, and that leniency be shown."

Tolegenova also indicated a desire to reach a plea agreement with the prosecutor before the case moves to deliberation.

Background of the Case

The trial, which began on March 16th in Astana, centers on charges of illegal entrepreneurship and money laundering. Prosecutors have accused the popular bloggers of operating businesses without proper registration and of concealing the origins of funds. Investigations revealed that approximately 247.6 million tenge flowed into accounts associated with the bloggers' projects.

Prosecutor's Sentence Request

The state prosecutor, Olzhas Kairullaev, has requested a four-year prison sentence for both defendants, along with the confiscation of their property. However, for Elmira Tolegenova, the prosecutor recommended a one-year postponement of the sentence, citing her status as a mother of underage children.

Previous Court Proceedings

The court proceedings have seen emotional moments, including a previous statement from Yerbolat Zhanabylov where he tearfully admitted partial guilt. He questioned why they were singled out, expressing the distress their situation has caused their families.

Earlier in the trial, the couple had objected to being filmed and photographed by journalists, with Tolegenova explaining that her older child was being questioned at school about their family's private life. Their request for a closed-door trial was ultimately denied.

The defense had previously requested the case be returned to the prosecutor, but this was also rejected. The prosecution's case detailed how prizes and rewards offered by the Zhanabylovs were funded by participants' money, creating a misleading impression of the prize pool's origin.

The court investigation concluded on April 22nd, leading to the final arguments and statements from both the prosecution and the defense.

This information was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.