Russian rap legend Guf (Alexey Dolmatov) has publicly reacted to the detention of his colleague and friend, 31-year-old rapper Navai (Navai Bakirov), in Kazakhstan on suspicion of drug smuggling. In a personal blog post, Dolmatov called the musician a "brother" and stated that he does not believe the charges brought against him. Against the backdrop of a court decision to remand him in custody and the intervention of Russian diplomatic departments, the incident has turned into one of the most discussed cases in the Russian-speaking music community.

Border detention and investigation progress

According to available data, Navai was detained on October 13 by border service officers of the National Security Committee and police of Kazakhstan upon entering the country. During the inspection of his car, narcotic substances were found, resulting in the initiation of a criminal case under the article on attempted drug smuggling. Investigative actions are reportedly ongoing.

Court decision and diplomatic track

On the morning of October 15, by a ruling of the Kordai District Court of the Zhambyl Region, Navai Bakirov was selected for a preventive measure in the form of detention for a period of two months. In parallel, official diplomatic structures got involved: the Consulate General of Russia in Almaty sent a note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan requesting official comments on the situation of the Russian citizen.

Alexey Dolmatov emphasized in his post that Navai has nothing to do with drugs: "Brother, I know what kind of 'rasta' you are. Not at all! I will never believe the slander that is being spread about you now! I am sure everything will be fine! We are waiting for you on Arbat, my native." He also published a joint photo with the musician. Blogger and event organizer Daur Gigauri also does not believe in the arrested man's innocence, pointing out that the discovery of substances in the car does not mean they belonged to Navai himself. The rapper's mother, Aynur Bakirova, in turn, said that the musician's team assured her: "now your son will be released, he will pay a fine, and everything will be settled."

Concert postponements

The incident has already affected the artist's touring plans. Following a concert in Bishkek, the performance in Astana scheduled for October 14 was postponed by organizers for an indefinite period "due to technical reasons." Also, a large solo concert scheduled for October 22 at the Moscow complex "VK Stadium" has been stopped; its new date has not yet been announced.

Legal context

According to the legislation of Kazakhstan, the illegal transportation of narcotic substances across the state border falls under the category of particularly grave crimes. At the time of publication, the case materials remain under investigation, and the legal qualification of the discovered substances and the degree of responsibility of the figure will be determined within the framework of the trial.