Minsk court sentences two for murder of Almambet Anapiyaev

Minsk, Belarus – A court in Minsk has delivered a verdict in the high-profile murder case of alleged crime boss Almambet Anapiyaev, sentencing two Kyrgyz citizens to lengthy prison terms.

The Minsk City Court found Gulzhigit Abilazizov and Bektursun Tarobaev, both citizens of Kyrgyzstan, guilty of murder with particular cruelty, a crime committed by a group. Abilazizov received a sentence of 18 years, while Tarobaev was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment.

Anapiyaev's body was discovered in the trunk of a car in the center of Minsk on February 18, 2015. At the time of discovery, authorities found a Russian Federation passport issued under the name Almabeka Shakirov, though relatives confirmed the identity of the deceased.

Abilazizov was apprehended in Kazakhstan on August 6, 2024, and subsequently extradited to Belarus. Tarobaev was arrested in Russia on July 15, 2025. Authorities continue to search for a third suspect in connection with the murder, who is currently listed on an international wanted list.