As reported by a KazTAG correspondent, Kasenov spoke about torture.
He emphasized that "all these events are the result of an illegal criminal case initiated by the Almaty police at the behest of Turlov and the Freedom Finance company, violating all norms of legislation." This statement was made by Kasenov in his video address published on his social media page.
Kasenov provided a timeline of events.
"On July 18, Turlov's employees filed a complaint with the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the name of Yerzhan Sadenov. On the same day, a criminal case was initiated in Almaty. Despite the fact that I, as the author of the publications and the person who recorded all the testimonies in the Freedom Finance case, was working in Astana, the case was opened in Almaty, violating current legislation," he noted.
According to him, the editorial office learned about the initiation of the case from the media, specifically from a publication in the "Kursiv" outlet associated with Turlov, only at the end of November.
"When I contacted the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, their head Shyngys Alekeshov assured that the case would be closed and that KazTAG would not be prosecuted. He even asked us not to make a fuss. We kept our word, but then learned that we had been recognized as suspects," he added.
Kasenov called this a serious violation.
"Now we are constantly being summoned for interrogations. For example, we were recently summoned to the Almaty police department, but they did not explain the purpose. When we arrived, it turned out that a confrontation was supposed to take place between me and Aset Mataev. However, since I refused to testify as a suspect, such a confrontation is illegal. Nevertheless, they tried to conduct it," he said.
Kasenov added that the investigator was pressuring them, which he perceives as torture. "We stated this in our petitions, as well as the need to apply the Istanbul Protocol," he noted.
In addition, he reported that they had filed a motion to disqualify the investigator.
"But the investigator did not discuss this issue with the management, and his supervisor Litvinenko simply brought a ready-made protocol, which is a gross violation," he added.
Kasenov also expressed his assumptions about the reasons for the criminal prosecution.
"The police are trying to involve Aset Mataev in the case. In my opinion, the main target is him, as I always emphasize that Aset does not interfere in editorial policy. Apparently, they want to use him to achieve my compliance," said Kasenov.
He also noted that the Minister of Internal Affairs recently took a photo with Turlov, which raises questions about possible interest in this case. "I ask the question: why is Minister Sadenov so actively supporting this obviously fabricated case?" he asked.
Let me remind you that the criminal case against the KazTAG management is based on the testimonies of victims of Freedom Finance fraud. On April 3, 2025, they approached the editorial office with a complaint that the information published in KazTAG was distorted in the interests of Freedom Finance.
The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed its concern regarding the criminal case against KazTAG, as did the international fund "Adil Soz".
Lawyer Rena Kerimova emphasized that her client, representing the interests of the victims, did not provide false information. Kasenov also noted that criminal prosecution is the only way to silence honest journalists.
Despite all this, the criminal prosecution of the KazTAG management continues to attract attention from both local and international media.
Support for the KazTAG management has also been expressed by parliament members and public figures.
Kasenov stated that he demands a confrontation with Timur Turlov and intends to summon all investors of Freedom Finance for interrogation.
KazTAG provided the embassies of the USA and the EU with recordings and transcripts of conversations with a former top manager of Freedom Finance, who claims to have conducted a $62 million operation to circumvent anti-Russian sanctions.
On December 11, Deputy Prime Minister Aida Balayeva reported that the ministry's lawyers are working on assisting KazTAG, which is threatened with criminal prosecution.
Lawyer Kerimova noted that the investigation should have notified in advance about the case so that KazTAG would not need the ministry's assistance.
On December 12, it became known that the embassies of the USA, the UK, and the EU are monitoring the situation surrounding the criminal case.
On December 13, KazTAG reported that the ARRF provided false information regarding the case, stating that the former director of Freedom Finance had never worked at the company, although he was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud. It later turned out that there was a mistake in spelling his name.
Also on that day, it became known that all investors of Freedom Finance are being summoned for interrogation in the case against KazTAG, and on December 14, signs of coordinated actions by the police were identified.
On December 15, lawyer Erlan Makenov supported the representative of the victimized investors of Freedom Finance.
On the same day, the US embassy voiced its position on the case against KazTAG.
