Reports about the arrest of Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu were officially denied. MFA press secretary Aibek Smadiyarov called this information "inconsistent with the truth" on September 4 and indicated a violation of journalistic ethics and the law.
On September 3, the Orda.kz publication, citing sources in law enforcement agencies, reported that Nurtleu and businessman Gadzhi Gadzhiev had been arrested and their homes searched. Shortly thereafter, the publication also wrote that this information had been denied by officials, but affirmed its commitment to its source.
According to sources in the Kazakh MFA, journalist Raushan Kazhybaeva announced that she would sue Orda.kz over this "slanderous" case.
Background: In recent months, several high-ranking officials in Kazakhstan have been arrested on criminal charges. For instance, in August, Vice Minister of Transport Satzhan Ablaliev was arrested for bribery, and in June, former Minister of Justice Marat Beketaev was convicted of large-scale embezzlement and sentenced to 9 years in prison.
The news about Murat Nurtleu has been officially denied. Conflicting statements from the media and officials on the matter continue. Orda.kz is defending the information, while the government intends to hold the publication accountable.
