The body of Almanbet Anapiyaev was found in the trunk of a car on one of Minsk's streets in February 2015 — with his hands tied and throat slit.
On August 6, the Minsk City Court delivered a verdict in the case of the murder of crime boss Almanbet Anapiyaev. Kyrgyz citizens Gulzhigit Abilazizov and Bektursun Torobaev were found guilty of murder with particular cruelty, committed by a group of persons, writes vesti.kg.
Abilazizov was sentenced to 18 years in a reinforced-regime penal colony. He was detained on August 6, 2024, in Kazakhstan, after which he was extradited to Belarus. Torobaev, detained on July 15, 2025, in Russia, received 13 years in a reinforced-regime penal colony. Another defendant in the case is on an international wanted list.
However, the name of the murder's mastermind was not disclosed in the verdict. The investigation into the alleged organizers continues. Law enforcement agencies are also verifying the circumstances under which Abilazizov gave false testimony to Kyrgyz investigators.
Almanbet Anapiyaev, known in criminal circles as Almanbet Alaysky, was considered a leader of a criminal group, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. The agency claimed that he supplied its members with weapons and money obtained through drug smuggling.
In December 2012, the U.S. imposed financial sanctions against several Kyrgyz citizens linked to the Eurasian criminal group "Brothers' Circle". Anapiyaev was also on the list.
He was also named one of Kamchy Kolbaev's closest associates. According to the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Anapiyaev allegedly provided weapons to members of Kolbaev's group to organize an assassination attempt on Rysbek Akmatbaev. In a police report, he was referred to as one of the three individuals closest to Kolbaev and a "representative" in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan.
Anapiyaev's body was discovered in the trunk of a car on a Minsk street on the night of February 16-17, 2015. It was wrapped in several blankets, hands tied, and a blue plastic bag was over his head. The deceased had his throat slit, and four stab wounds were found on his back, which proved fatal.
A few days after the murder, Gulzhigit Abilazizov, who introduced himself as Anapiyaev's cook and bodyguard, appeared in Kyrgyzstan. Through a lawyer, he stated that he was an accidental witness to the massacre and allegedly identified the attackers.
Later, the Belarusian side repeatedly tried to interrogate him as part of the investigation, but investigative actions with his participation did not take place. Abilazizov was subsequently arrested in Kazakhstan and extradited to Belarus.
The court has now recognized him as the direct perpetrator of the murder. However, the question of who organized the crime and stood behind its perpetrators remains open.
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