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A court in Astana has delivered a verdict in the case of well-known blogger Elmira Tolegenova, sentencing her to two years in prison with a suspended sentence and forfeiture of assets. The execution of her sentence has been postponed for two years, a decision influenced by the presence of her young children.

Court Proceedings

Elmira Tolegenova's husband, Yerbolat Zhanabylov, also received a two-year suspended prison sentence and forfeiture of property.

During the trial, the prosecutor initially requested four years in a penal colony for both individuals. However, after considering Tolegenova's final statement, which included pleas of remorse and appeals for leniency, the prosecution recommended a lighter, suspended sentence.

Charges and Financials

Yerbolat Zhanabylov and Elmira Tolegenova faced charges including "Illegal Entrepreneurship" and "Legalization of Money or Property Obtained Criminally." According to investigation findings, their projects attracted a total of 247,653,000 tenge into their accounts.

Privacy Concerns

The bloggers expressed objections to being photographed and filmed by journalists during the court sessions. They cited concerns about their children facing personal questions at school as the reason for their request for privacy.