Former Kazakh presidential adviser Yerzhan Babakumarov beaten to death in Astana

Yerzhan Babakumarov, a former adviser to the president of Kazakhstan, was beaten to death overnight in the capital Astana, police said.

According to a statement from Astana’s police department, a verbal dispute broke out between Babakumarov and a person he knew, which escalated into a physical altercation. The 56-year-old died from injuries sustained during the incident.

“The suspect has been detained and placed in a temporary detention facility. A criminal case has been opened for murder, and a pre-trial investigation is underway,” police said.

Kazakhstan’s General Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that a pre-trial investigation had been launched and called on the public to await its conclusions.

Babakumarov held multiple government posts since the 1990s, including head of the Central Communications Service (CCS), the Center for Analysis and Forecasting under the presidential administration, deputy head of the Presidential Office, and deputy mayor (akim) of Almaty.

He served as presidential adviser from April to July 2019.