Mukhtar Kabyluly Ablyazov Kazakh: ?????? ???????? ???????, romanized: Muhtar Qabyluly Ábliazov, born 16 May 1963) is former chairman of Bank Turan Alem (BTA Bank) and the founder of the political party Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (QDT).
He was also the former head of the state-owned Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) as well as briefly holding the position of Minister for Energy, Industry, and Trade in Kazakhstan.Ablyazov has been accused of embezzling $6 billion from BTA Bank while serving as chairman.
In 2015, a French court in Lyon issued an extradition order.
However, in December 2016, France's highest administrative court, the Conseil d'Etat, canceled the extradition order, on the ground that Russia had a political motive in making the extradition request.
Ablyazov was subsequently released from the Fleury-Mérogis Prison and is believed to currently reside in Paris, France.
The UK High Court of Justice has twice issued arrest warrants on Ablyazov; most recently July 25, 2019, and extended to 22 months a court-ordered detention originating in 2012 for a contempt of court judgement.