Kazakh journalist and oppositionist Aydos Sadykov, who was assassinated on 18 June, has died in hospital in Kyiv.
This was reported by his wife, journalist Nataliya Sadykova.
"Aydos Sadykov left us today at 3:00 Kyiv time. My beloved husband, father of our three children, a great son of the Kazakh people. Aydos gave his life for Kazakhstan, he was martyred by killers. For thirteen days, Aydos fought for his life in intensive care, but a miracle did not happen. His death is on the conscience of Tokayev (President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev)," she wrote on Facebook on the morning of 2 July.
The attempted assassination of Aydos Sadykov
- The Sadykovs moved to Kyiv from the Kazakh city of Aktobe in 2014 after a criminal case was opened against Nataliya Sadykova. Aydos Sadykov was prosecuted in his home country, as he claims, for political reasons. In Ukraine, they were granted refugee status. Last autumn, the Kazakh authorities put Aydos and Nataliya Sadykov on the wanted list on charges of inciting hatred.
- Sadykov was active in public life and organised protests. Together with his wife, he currently runs his own YouTube channel, BASE, where, in particular, he criticises the Kazakh authorities and oligarchs. Sadykov is also known for supporting the protests in Kazakhstan in January 2022, when CSTO troops were deployed to suppress them. Since October 2023, he has been wanted in Kazakhstan for so-called incitement to hatred.
- On 18 June, Sadykov, who was in a car with his wife near their home, was shot at. The woman remained physically unharmed. After the shots, the attackers fled.
- On 21 June, Ukrainian police identified the attackers. They were two citizens of Kazakhstan: Meyram Karatayev, born on 9 May 1991, and Altay Zhakanbayev, born on 8 February 1988. The victim's wife is convinced that the Kazakh authorities were involved in the assassination attempt. Zhakanbayev recently surrendered to Kazakh law enforcement.
- On 25 June, Ukraine began extradition proceedings against the suspects in the attempted murder of Sadykov.