Former head of Astana migration service Yerbol Makhmetov detained: NSC comment

Tengrinews.kz — The National Security Committee (KNB) has commented on the detention of the former head of Astana's migration service.
Information regarding the detention of Erbol Makhmetov, the former head of the migration service department of the Astana Police Department, has spread through media and social networks. Reports suggested his possible involvement in a criminal case against Aliya Makayeva, the deputy head of the same department. We previously reported that Makayeva had been detained and is currently under pretrial investigation.
The KNB has not yet specified whether Makhmetov's detention is linked to the criminal case against Makayeva.
Responding to an inquiry about Erbol Makhmetov's detention, the KNB press service confirmed that a pretrial investigation is underway.
"In accordance with Part 1 of Article 201 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, further information is not subject to disclosure," the KNB press service stated.
In early August, Aliya Makayeva, deputy head of the Astana Police Department's migration service, was detained in connection with a criminal case. At the time, reports surfaced online suggesting she was suspected of organizing illegal migration. It was also reported that the investigation could be related to the illegal issuance of residence permits to foreign nationals.
Earlier, in a response to a Tengrinews.kz inquiry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that it conducts systematic work on an ongoing basis to ensure legality and official discipline within its own ranks.

"One of our priority areas is the identification, prevention, and suppression of offenses, as well as purging the ranks of employees who have violated the law. For every identified incident, measures are taken in accordance with current legislation. This work is carried out in cooperation with authorized state bodies and is aimed at ensuring the rule of law, strengthening official discipline, and protecting the rights and legitimate interests of citizens," the Ministry's official response stated.

The department also noted that the pretrial investigation against Makayeva is being conducted by national security agencies in conjunction with the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Internal Security Department.
Under Article 77 of the Constitution of Kazakhstan, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court judgment that has entered into legal force.