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Aстана. June 8. KazTAG – The wife of KazTAG's editor-in-chief, Amir Kasenov, has voiced strong objections to what she describes as the court's haste in processing her husband's case. The sudden rescheduling of a court hearing has created significant logistical and financial difficulties for the family.

Sudden Rescheduling Causes Uproar

Aigul Kasenova, wife of Amir Kasenov, revealed that the court session initially scheduled for June 15 in Almaty was abruptly moved to June 11. This change has disrupted the family's plans, particularly as Kasenova accompanies her husband, who has limited contact with the outside world. The couple planned to travel with their three young children, as no one is available to care for them.

Financial Strain and Missed Flights

The family had already purchased non-refundable plane tickets for five people in advance to Almaty, anticipating the original June 15 date and factoring in the expense and timing of summer travel. The sudden shift to June 11 means these tickets are now unusable, and the family faces the prospect of purchasing new ones, a significant financial burden.

Legal Representation in Jeopardy

Kasenova also highlighted that many of the involved lawyers have prior commitments and cannot attend the June 11 hearing. Lawyers from "Freedom Finance" have also stated their inability to be present on the new date, with most parties advocating for the original June 15 date.

Concerns Over Justice and Fairness

Despite explaining the financial implications and the non-refundable nature of the tickets, Kasenova has yet to receive a response from the Almatyly District Court. She previously noted that Amir Kasenov had not had sufficient time to review the case materials before the initial court submission. The situation raises concerns about the court's adherence to principles of "Law and Order," "Justice in Kazakhstan," and the concept of a "Listening State," as articulated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Background of the Case

The legal troubles for Amir Kasenov gained public attention following a video address to President Tokayev released by his friend Eldar Zhurgenov on June 2. Later that day, Kasenov's lawyer, Yulia Malyukova, expressed her client's loss of faith in the objectivity of the investigation. Public support for Kasenov, including from prominent journalists, was reported by KazTAG on the evening of June 2. Member of Parliament Ermurat Bapi suggested on June 3 that "some FSB arguments" were present in the case at higher levels. Human rights advocate Yevgeny Zhovtis also commented on June 3, expressing dim hopes for an independent judicial process.

Further developments included an appeal from lawyers to President Tokayev on June 4, stating that people were losing faith in judicial justice. Coincidentally, on June 5, President Tokayev spoke about "Law and Order," "Justice in Kazakhstan," and a "Listening State" at an international forum, echoing phrases Kasenov had used in his video address.

The case also involves allegations concerning Freedom Finance. On June 3, the company reported a net annual profit of $153 million to a US regulator. However, journalist Ayan Sharipbayev claimed that the company's CEO, Timur Turlov, had caused losses of $613 million (approximately 320 billion tenge). Sharipbayev's statement followed Kasenov's video address to the president and suggested that Turlov's holding company may have provided false information to US regulators or misled the Kazakh investigation. This aligns with previous concerns about discrepancies between financial reporting and stated losses in Kazakhstan, actions that could carry criminal penalties in both the US and Kazakhstan.

Following Sharipbayev's publication, his social media page became inaccessible, and he reported a "technical attack." On June 6, KazTAG published an open letter to the US Embassy in Kazakhstan regarding potential false information provided by Turlov to the SEC. KazTAG's analysis of Freedom Holding Corp.'s reports also suggested potential undervaluation and non-payment of dividends on common shares. It was revealed on June 4 that Freedom was attempting to recover approximately 320 billion tenge in losses through the Petropavlovsk court, also seeking recovery from former general manager Vitaly Svetovoy.

On June 5, Freedom's report to the US mentioned risks related to corruption in Kazakhstan, potential mass unrest similar to the January events, and military conflicts. The report also indicated the company's enrichment through state and quasi-state debt. On June 6, Freedom Holding Corp. listed Kazakhstan's tax reform as a risk in its US filing. On June 8, the company acknowledged numerous risks associated with its data processing centers (DPCs) project for artificial intelligence, with "DPC Dolina" being the only known large-scale project of this nature in Kazakhstan, considered strategically important and receiving presidential attention.

On June 8, during a court session in the Petropavlovsk court, it was revealed that Svetovoy had transferred tens of millions of tenge to Freedom Finance employees through billionaire Turlov's structure to "Freedom Bank Kazakhstan" via various transactions. Bank statements detailing money movement from KazTAG editorial accounts were provided to the victims.