In Kazakhstan, comedian Saburov may be checked under an article on mercenarism
Nurlan Saburov
The Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan intends to check comedian Nurlan Saburov under a criminal article on mercenarism due to his possible participation in supplying Russian military personnel. This was stated by the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic Galymzhan Koigeldiev.
According to Kazakhstani legislation, financing of armed conflicts entails criminal liability. The article provides for a punishment of seven to 12 years in prison.
The reason for the inspection, according to media reports, was a post in the telegram channel of the head of the city of Istra, Tatyana Vikusheva, published in the summer of 2025. It stated that Saburov, who lived in the Istra region, transferred 10 motorcycles to the combat zone.
“10 powerful pit bikes are sent to the fighters of the Wagner Istra Legion under the command of the hero of Russia Ratibor. Commander, accept the equipment!” Vikusheva wrote.
The publication has now been deleted, but copies of it have been preserved in a number of public pages.
Saburov was detained at Vnukovo airport on February 6 and banned from entering Russia for 50 years. The artist returned to Kazakhstan, cleared his profile on social networks and refused to comment on the situation, saying that lawyers and competent authorities were dealing with the details.
“Important Stories,” with reference to an acquaintance of Saburov, wrote that the ban was initiated by the Service for the Protection of the Constitutional System and the Fight against Terrorism of the FSB (Second Service) and its head Alexey Zhalo. The main reason, according to the interlocutor, was not so much complaints about the comedian’s jokes, but his reluctance to cooperate with the FSB.
Because of this, Saburov, who has Kazakh citizenship, was denied a residence permit in Russia three times, the source said. According to a comedian friend, Saburov tried to demonstrate his “pro-Russian” position: he transferred two million rubles to the “Everything for Victory” fund and donated ten motorcycles “for the needs of the Northern Military District,” but this did not influence the decision of the special services.
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In Kazakhstan, comedian Saburov may be checked under an article on mercenarism