Kazakh court orders two months' pretrial detention for Russian rapper Navai in drug smuggling case
A court in Kazakhstan on 15 October ordered Russian rapper Navai Bakirov held for two months in a drug smuggling case. He was detained at a border checkpoint after drugs were found in his car.
The Korday District Court in Kazakhstan on 15 October ordered two months of pretrial detention for the rapper Navai, whose full name is Navai Bakirov, in a drug smuggling case. The Russian Telegram channel Baza reported the decision.
Detention at the border
Bakirov was detained on 14 October at a checkpoint as he entered Kazakhstan from Kyrgyzstan. Drugs were found in his car. According to Baza, officers found 10 grams of marijuana, while other sources give a smaller amount of 2.5 grams of drugs.
Baza also reported that during questioning the rapper admitted he had bought the drugs in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. He was travelling to Kazakhstan to perform at a concert in Astana on 14 October.
Inquiry in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan's State Border Service has opened an internal inquiry after Navai was detained with drugs following his border crossing, the Russian news agency TASS reported. The inquiry is intended to establish all the circumstances of his border screening. The service said that if it finds violations, it will take appropriate action under the law against those responsible.
Who is Navai
Navai Bakirov is best known as a member of HammAli & Navai, a hookah rap duo that was active from 2016 to 2025. After the duo split, Bakirov began a solo career.
