Nazarbayev’s former son-in-law to serve life sentence

The former son-in-law of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, a former ambassador of the republic, Rakhat Aliyev, could face a life sentence, according to Austrian law, if he is found guilty of murder charges against him. Notwithstanding the results of a possible trial, Aliyev’s lawyer rules out the possibility of his extradition to Kazakhstan.

According to the lawyer of the widows of managers of Nurbank, murder cases in Austria are considered by a jury which includes three professional judges and eight lay people. The process will be public. Only jurors can deliver a verdict.

Rakhat Aliyev was arrested on June 5th in Vienna. He is accused of involvement in the murders and kidnapping of two bankers. In Kazakhstan he has been sentenced to 40 years imprisonment in absentia.