Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has denied allegations by Kazakhstani opposition figure Mukhtar Ablyazov that he requested financial assistance during the events of October 2020, according to 24.kg. Japarov confirmed that he had spoken with Ablyazov by telephone in 2020 but disputed the opposition figure's account of their conversation. According to the Kyrgyz president, Ablyazov had instead asked him to help organize a revolution in Kazakhstan.
Japarov stated that the telephone conversation lasted approximately two minutes, contradicting Ablyazov's claim that they had spoken for 40 minutes. The Kyrgyz president also said that he had not personally known Ablyazov before October 2020. According to Japarov, the conversation was arranged by Melis Aspekov, who was with him at the time.
"One day, he came up to me and handed me the phone, saying that Mukhtar Ablyazov wanted to speak with me. Suspecting nothing, I took the receiver," Japarov recalled.
The president stated that Ablyazov initially praised the people of Kyrgyzstan for the events of October 2020 before asking for assistance in organizing a revolution in Kazakhstan.
"'You Kyrgyz have carried out three revolutions, while we Kazakhs are unable to do anything. Therefore, I ask for your help. If you grant permission, I will fly to Bishkek and organize a revolution from Kazakhstan' — that is how the opposition figure's appeal went," Japarov said.
According to Japarov, he rejected Ablyazov's request, stating that he did not intend to interfere in Kazakhstan's domestic politics or damage relations between the two countries.
"Firstly, I do not interfere in the politics of neighboring states. Secondly, I have no intention of damaging relations with Kazakhstan because of you. It would be better if you didn't come; just focus on your own affairs," Japarov said, describing his response.
The Kyrgyz president reiterated that the conversation lasted approximately two minutes. He also rejected Ablyazov's allegation that he had requested money during the events of October 2020.
"If he is saying such things, then he is a true fraudster. I never asked him for any money," Japarov stated.
The president added that he had no need to seek financial assistance from Ablyazov at the time.
Mukhtar Ablyazov is a Kazakhstani entrepreneur and opposition politician who previously served as Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy, Industry, and Trade. He also served as chairman of the board of directors of BTA Bank and has been accused of embezzling nearly $6bn from the bank.
In 2012, a British court sentenced Ablyazov to 22 months in prison for contempt of court after finding that he had concealed assets, violated court injunctions and provided false testimony. Ablyazov subsequently left the United Kingdom and did not serve the sentence.
In June 2017, a court in Almaty sentenced him in absentia to 20 years in prison in connection with the embezzlement of BTA Bank funds and other financial crimes. In November 2018, a court in Kazakhstan's Zhambyl region sentenced Ablyazov in absentia to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of orchestrating the murder of banker Yerzhan Tatishev, who died in 2004.
Ablyazov has denied the charges against him and described the prosecution as politically motivated.