Life Sentences Upheld in Yanina Legkodimova Murder Case

The Atyrau Regional Court of Appeal has upheld the life sentences for two men convicted of murdering Yanina Legkodimova. All defense motions were rejected, confirming the original verdict.

At the start of the hearing, the defense requested that media representatives be removed from the courtroom, but the court denied this motion. Later, at the request of the lawyers, journalists were prohibited from filming the defense attorneys. Rizuan Kairzhanov's father pleaded with the court for a more lenient sentence, while Altynbek Katimov's defense team sought to have the charge of contract killing dismissed.

Previously, a specialized inter-district criminal court in Atyrau region found Rizuan Kairzhanov and Altynbek Katimov guilty of murder committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy and for hire, as well as intentional destruction of property. Both defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment to be served in a maximum-security institution.

The convicts attempted to appeal the verdict, but the appellate court found no violations of criminal procedure law or grounds for reviewing the case. Consequently, their life sentences have become legally binding.

According to investigative materials, the crime was motivated by a personal conflict. The young woman was strangled, after which her body was thrown into the Ural River. Her remains were discovered only eight months later. The victim's personal notes played a crucial role in solving the crime, allowing investigators to reconstruct the sequence of events.

The case generated significant public outcry in Atyrau. Court hearings attracted considerable attention from local residents, and discussions about it were active on social media platforms.