Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) has initiated an investigation into stand-up comedian Nurlan Saburov. The agency's press service confirmed this to the Tengrinews.kz publication.

Other details of the probe have not been officially disclosed. The investigation was prompted by a video circulating online that allegedly shows Saburov handing over 10 motorcycles to the "Wagner Legion Istra" unit, which is participating in Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. The video emerged shortly after reports of the comedian's expulsion from Russia. Initially, many users considered the footage fake, but journalists from Factcheck.kz claimed to have verified its authenticity.

It was later revealed that Kazakh activist Marat Turimbetov appealed to the General Prosecutor's Office, demanding an investigation. Lawyer Bauyrzhan Ongarov stated that if the facts are confirmed, the comedian could face criminal liability under the article on mercenarism, carrying a sentence of 7 to 12 years in prison. According to him, this could involve financing or materially supporting mercenaries of the former Wagner private military company. Meanwhile, a number of Russian media outlets assert that "Wagner Legion Istra" is a unit within the Russian Ministry of Defense, established after the dissolution of the private military company.

Nurlan Saburov was born in Stepnogorsk and gained widespread fame as a resident of the Stand Up comedy project on the TNT television channel. He has toured cities in Russia and Kazakhstan, performed solo stand-up concerts, and hosted the popular show "What Happened Next?". In 2020, the comedian was included in Forbes Russia's list of the 30 most promising Russians under 30, despite not holding Russian citizenship.

In early February, Saburov was denied entry to Russia at a border control checkpoint in an airport, with a 50-year entry ban announced. According to state agencies, the decision was made on national security grounds and due to violations of migration and tax legislation. Currently, according to media reports, the artist is in Almaty.

Source: kun.uz