Former Kazakh consul convicted in illegal visa scheme

    A former Kazakh consul in India has been found guilty in an illegal visa scheme.
    A court in Almaty on August 8 sentenced Rashid Rakhimbekov to 18 months of "limited freedom," which amounts to a suspended sentence with parole limitations.
    The court found Rakhimbekov guilty of illegally issuing business visas to foreign nationals while serving as the Kazakh consul in India in 2010-2013.
    It also ordered him to pay a fine of 26 million tenges ($73,500).
    Rakhimbekov denied any wrongdoing and said he will appeal the ruling, according to RFE/RL.