Blogger Sentenced to Three Years for Extorting Officials in Western Kazakhstan

On February 25, the Ural City Court found 43-year-old Aibolat Bukenov guilty and sentenced him to three years in a medium-security penal colony.

The court established that Bukenov built a social media following by criticizing authorities, then leveraged his online influence for financial gain. The victims in the case include several district akims (governors) of the West Kazakhstan Region, other officials, and a deputy.

Investigators stated that the blogger used part of the extorted money for betting. All victims have demanded compensation for the damages incurred.

During the trial, Bukenov pleaded guilty and promised to return the funds. He entered into a plea agreement. At the hearing, most of the victims requested that a strict punishment be imposed.

Bukenov was under house arrest during the investigation. Following the verdict announcement, he was taken into custody directly in the courtroom.

This conviction follows another recent case where a blogger was imprisoned on February 23 for blackmailing a sports complex director in Taraz.