AKIPRESS.COM - The Specialized Investigative Court of Astana on April 30 chose a preventive measure in the form of detention for two months against former Minister of Internal Affairs Erlan Turgumbayev, vlast.kz reports, citing the Prosecutor General's Office.

Erlan Turgumbayev was detained on April 29 in connection with the January 2022 unrest. He is suspected of abuse of power and authority, resulting in grave consequences.

The General Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan reported in March that former Minister of Internal Affairs Erlan Turgumbayev was interrogated as part of investigations into law enforcement officers in connection with the January unrest. The officers were suspected of a failure to ensure law and order, as well as the use of torture against citizens. It was not indicated whether former Minister of Internal Affairs was a witness or a suspect.

Erlan Turgumbayev has worked in law enforcement agencies since 1984. He became Minister of Internal Affairs in 2019 and was reappointed three times. Before that, he headed the Department of Internal Affairs of Almaty. He was relieved of his post as Minister of Internal Affairs and appointed Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan in February 2022. Erlan Turgumbayev was relieved of this position in August.