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A high-profile court case involving popular Kazakh bloggers Erbolat Janabylov and Elmıra Tólegenova is underway in Astana. Prosecutors have begun presenting their case, detailing allegations of illegal business activities and money laundering.

Allegations of Deceptive Lottery Scheme

According to the indictment read by Senior Prosecutor Oljas Haırýllaev, the bloggers are accused of running a lottery scheme under the guise of selling online courses. The prosecution asserts that Janabylov and Tólegenova lacked the necessary licenses and authorization to conduct lotteries in Kazakhstan, a privilege officially held by "Sátti Juldyz" JSC and its registered agents.

The scheme allegedly enticed participants with the promise of winning valuable prizes, including cars and other high-value items. However, the terms and conditions for these prize draws were reportedly not formally documented, and the rules for selecting winners and conducting the promotions were not publicly disclosed.

Manipulated Odds and Misleading Advertising

Prosecutors detailed how the bloggers allegedly manipulated the odds of winning. For instance, the probability of winning a 5,000 tenge prize was reportedly inflated to represent 85.5% of the total prize pool, significantly increasing its perceived likelihood compared to other prizes.

Advertising campaigns, primarily conducted through the bloggers' Instagram accounts, showcased videos and posts featuring prizes, including cars. However, the prosecution claims these materials created a misleading impression of high winning chances, while the actual probability of winning major prizes, like vehicles, was considerably lower.

Furthermore, a prize described as the "11th car" was advertised, but investigators found no concrete evidence of its existence or if it was ever awarded to a participant.

Financial Scale of the Operation

The indictment states that the prizes and gifts offered were funded by the participants' payments for the online courses, rather than the organizers' own funds as suggested in advertisements. Investigations revealed that approximately 247 million 653 thousand tenge flowed into accounts associated with the project during the promotion period.

The prosecution views the bloggers' actions as indicators of illegal business activities, including earning substantial profits and laundering criminally obtained funds. The total amount received by the "Zhana Business" LLP, linked to the bloggers, reached 247.5 million tenge, with 60 million tenge placed in deposit accounts.

Legal Proceedings and Blogger's Stance

Both Erbolat Janabylov and Elmıra Tólegenova face charges of illegal business activities and money laundering. When asked by the judge if they admitted guilt, both bloggers declined to answer.

A preliminary court hearing in this case took place on March 13. The defense had requested the case be returned to the prosecutor, but this motion was denied by the court.

During the court sessions, the bloggers expressed opposition to being filmed or photographed by journalists, with Tólegenova citing concerns for her children.

Who are the Janabylovs?

Erbolat Janabylov and Elmıra Tólegenova are among Kazakhstan's most prominent social media influencers. Janabylov boasts 8.4 million followers on his account, while Tólegenova has 7.1 million. Their posts frequently garner millions of views, and their prize giveaways often go viral on Instagram.

Seized Assets

As part of the investigation, authorities seized 10 vehicles, including a Lamborghini Urus and a Lexus LX 600, along with 17 iPhones. The bloggers have been placed under house arrest.

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