Judge Who Presided Over High-Profile Cases Removed from Position in Kazakhstan

The acting chairman of the Zhambyl Regional Court in Kazakhstan has been relieved of his duties. The decision concerns Yerbol Akhmetzhanov, the judge who handed down sentences in the high-profile cases of Vladislav Chelakh, known as the 'Arkankergen shooter,' and businessman Tokhtar Tuleshov from Shymkent.

The personnel decision was announced today following a session of the Supreme Judicial Council. According to an official statement, the meeting addressed matters concerning the release of the acting chairman of the Zhambyl Regional Court from his position, as well as proposals from the Chairman of the Supreme Court regarding appointments to chairmanships of regional and equivalent courts. As a result, the acting chairman was removed from his post.

The session also considered proposals for appointing chairpersons to other key judicial bodies, including the Astana City Court and Almaty City Court. The council noted that all candidates for these vacant positions were presented on an alternative basis to ensure competitive and objective selection procedures. Following discussions, it supported the Supreme Court Chairman's proposals by recommending well-prepared and experienced judges with significant professional backgrounds and organizational skills.

Yerbol Akhmetzhanov's judicial career includes serving as a judge at a specialized inter-district military court for criminal cases in Almaty from 2009 to 2014. It was in this capacity that he presided over one of Kazakhstan's most notorious criminal cases, sentencing border guard Vladislav Chelakh to life imprisonment. In May 2012, Chelakh shot and killed 14 fellow servicemen and a gamekeeper at the 'Arkankergen' border post. Subsequent judicial instances upheld this initial verdict.

In November 2016, while serving as chairman of a specialized inter-district military court for criminal cases in Astana, Akhmetzhanov delivered another significant ruling. He found businessman Tokhtar Tuleshov guilty on multiple serious charges related to organized crime activities. The Shymkent-based entrepreneur, often referred to as a 'beer king,' received a 21-year prison sentence along with confiscation of illegally acquired assets.

Akhmetzhanov was appointed chairman of the Zhambyl Regional Court in February 2020. He turned 61 years old earlier this year.