Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry has commented on a high-profile case involving a Kazakh citizen who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates.

Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev said that the verdict was issued by a court of first instance, and the convicted individual has already filed an appeal, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

He also noted that discussions about extradition to Kazakhstan are not currently underway.

“The legal process must be fully completed, after which a decision will be made. Everything will proceed in accordance with UAE law. Lawyers and our consulate general are involved. There are several serious charges, and I do not want to go into details,” Bakayev said.

He stressed that Kazakhstan’s consular services are providing assistance, as the case involves a Kazakh citizen.

The case is linked to a violent incident in Dubai involving a group of five individuals, including citizens of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. They are suspected of attacking a Turkish national at a villa, where both the victim and his spouse sustained knife injuries. Around 1.2 million dirhams (approximately $327,000) were stolen during the incident.

The investigation and legal proceedings are continuing under UAE jurisdiction.