Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency has issued a wanted notice for Azamat Kapenov, a businessman and former son-in-law of ex-National Security Committee (NSC) chairman Karim Massimov.

Kapenov, a Russian national born on April 12, 1978, and originally from Przhevalsk, Kyrgyz Republic, is sought in connection with a serious crime under Article 190, part 4, clause 3 of the Kazakh Criminal Code, which pertains to fraud. The agency has issued a preventive measure for his detention and is offering a reward for information leading to his whereabouts.

Kapenov previously served as Deputy General Director for Business Development in the CIS and Adjacent States at Federal Freight Company. He was married to Karim Massimov’s eldest daughter.

In April 2023, Massimov was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Astana Specialized Inter-district Criminal Court. He was convicted of treason, violent seizure of power, and abuse of office. 

Massimov had been removed from his position as chairman of the NSC on January 5, 2022, following unrest in the country. He was detained on January 8 of the same year on suspicion of treason.