Prosecutors reopen 2015 attempted murder case of Asel Temirova

September 19, 2026 at 11:59 AM2 min

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Kazakhstan's prosecutors have reopened a pre-trial investigation into the 2015 attempted murder of Asel Temirova. Temirova announced the decision on social media, saying the case had been suspended for more than nine years. The move follows her appeal to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and complaints from her lawyer to the Prosecutor General's Office.

Key Facts

The pre-trial investigation into the attempted murder of Asel Temirova was reopened after more than nine years.
Temirova said the suspect in the case is Maksut Yerzhanov, former head of security at the state-owned SPK Qonaev.
The criminal case was first registered in 2015 and was suspended several times, citing failure to identify the perpetrator.
Temirova's lawyer Ilyas Bitimbayev said Yerzhanov has had suspect status since December 2015 and Temirova is recognized as the victim.

Case Reopened

Asel Temirova announced on social media that the pre-trial investigation into the preparation of a robbery and attempted murder against her has been resumed. She said the decision came after she sent an appeal to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the end of summer and her lawyer repeatedly filed complaints with the Prosecutor General's Office. Temirova wrote that after more than nine years, the deadlines for the pre-trial investigation had finally been renewed.

Suspect and Allegations

Temirova identified Maksut Yerzhanov as the suspect in the case, stating that he headed the security service of the state structure SPK Qonaev. She also mentioned an investigator, claiming that he fabricated criminal cases against her in Almaty. Temirova said the group stole years of her life, her child's childhood, and the chance to say goodbye to her grandmother, and vowed to ensure everyone involved is punished.

Case History

The criminal case based on Temirova's complaint was registered in 2015 and the investigation lasted about two years before being suspended several times. Statistical data cited failure to identify the person who committed the criminal offense as the reason for suspension. Temirova's lawyer Ilyas Bitimbayev said Yerzhanov has had suspect status since December 2015 and Temirova is recognized as the victim. The case gained additional resonance after Yerzhanov became head of security at SPK Qonaev, and he left the post after a journalistic inquiry by Ulysmedia.kz.