Kazakhstan, Astana, August 6 / Trend D. Mukhtarov /
BTA Bank former head Mukhtar Ablyazov in Kazakhstan faces up to 13 years in prison with confiscation of property, official representative of the Kazakh Prosecutor General's Office Nurdaulet Suindikov said at a press conference today.
"Ablyazov is accused of committing several crimes: establishing and leading a criminal group, theft, legalization of funds obtained through crimes, illegal use of bank funds and so on," Suindikov told media. "The maximum sentence is up to 13 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property."
"On July 31 the French bureau of Interpol informed about the detention of Ablyazov in France, Suindikov said. "Kazakhstan's National Bureau of Interpol immediately sent an official confirmation of searching for Ablyazov by French colleagues."
He was remanded in custody the same day until the municipal court determines the procedural status. On August 1, the court of Aix-en-Provence town authorized Ablyazov's detention up to 40 days in accordance with the French criminal procedure legislation.
Suindikov added that according to the court's decision, Ablyazov will stay in a prison of Luynes town until all procedures relating to extradition are over. On August 2 the Kazakh Prosecutor General's Office sent a letter to France to extradite Ablyazov home.
Ukrainian and Russian law enforcement agencies sent a confirmation about searching for Ablyazov and the intention of the French authorities to extradite him to these countries.
"These processes are independent of each other," he added. "Nobody is entitled to interfere or influence the decisions made by the competent bodies of other countries relating to the search and intention to seek extradition of accused persons," Suindikov added. "The extradition of persons suspected of committing crimes is regulated by the internal legislation of the countries where they are hiding, as well as international agreements."
As for the prospects for Ablyazov's extradition to Kazakhstan, official representative of the Kazakh General Prosecutor's Office said that a positive trend of extraditing the individuals, accused of crimes, from European countries on the basis of reciprocity, that is, even in the absence of bilateral agreements has recently appeared.