Russian rapper Navai Bakirov, known as Navai, has been released from a pretrial detention center in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstani police told the Russian state news agency TASS that the criminal case against him on drug smuggling charges was dropped in light of his “active repentance.” The prosecutor’s office has already approved the decision to drop the case.
Bakirov was detained on October 14 at a checkpoint on the border with Kyrgyzstan as he entered Kazakhstan, after drugs were found in his car. Baza, a Russian security services-linked Telegram channel, reported that 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of marijuana were found in the car, while other sources cited 2.5 grams (0.09 ounces) of drugs. During questioning, the outlet reported, the rapper said he had bought the drugs in Bishkek.
Bakirov was traveling to Kazakhstan to perform a concert in Astana on October 14.
The Kordai District Court on October 15 authorized the arrest of Bakirov for two months.
Navai Bakirov is best known primarily as a member of the duo HammAli & Navai, which performed hookah rap and existed from 2016 to 2025. After the duo broke up, Bakirov began a solo career.
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