The key facts

  • Navai's case was dropped on non-rehabilitating grounds, with the decision approved by a supervisory authority
  • The rapper was detained on October 13 at the Kordai checkpoint on the border with Kyrgyzstan
  • After the case was dropped, Navai was expelled from Kazakhstan; his concert in Astana on October 14 was cancelled

Case dropped, rapper expelled

The criminal case against Russian rapper Navai (Navai Bakirov), detained in Kazakhstan on suspicion of drug smuggling, has been dropped. This was reported by the press service of the Police Department of Zhambyl Region. According to the police, the case was dropped on non-rehabilitating grounds, taking into account that the artist committed the offense for the first time and, in accordance with the requirements of criminal procedure legislation, actively expressed remorse. The relevant decision was approved by a supervisory authority. After that, Navai was expelled from Kazakhstan.

Circumstances of the detention

The rapper was detained on October 13 upon entry into Kazakhstan at the Kordai checkpoint on the border with Kyrgyzstan. The police reported that drugs were found during the inspection of the car in which he was traveling. A criminal case was then opened against him on charges of attempted smuggling.

Cancelled concert

Navai was traveling to Kazakhstan to give a concert. His performance, scheduled for October 14 in Astana, was cancelled.