Ablyazov is a controversial figure who is being sued for £1.3bn in civil actions and is alleged to be behind a fraud of up to £7.6bn
Mukhtar Ablyazov's application for political asylum was based on his claims that he faces persecution if he were to return to Kazakhstan.
This article is the subject of a legal complaint made on behalf of Mukhtar Ablyazov
A Kazakh businessman, exiled in Britain and facing claims that he has embezzled $4bn (£2.4bn), has won his battle to gain asylum in the UK.
A statement on behalf of Mukhtar Ablyazov, a former head of the now Kazakh state-owned bank BTA, said: "The UK Home Office confirmed that Mr Ablyazov will be granted refugee status and that his wife and children have been permitted to remain in the UK. The status granted by the United Kingdom to Mr Ablyazov amidst reports that the government of Kazakhstan was seeking his extradition is derived from the United Nations Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees."
Ablyazov's application for political asylum was based on his claims that he faces persecution if he were to return to Kazakhstan. The former banker has lived in the UK since BTA was acquired by the Kazakhstan government in 2009 – a deal which Ablyazov claims he was forced into because he was a leading figure in the opposition against long-serving Kazakhstan president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. He also claims to have been previously imprisoned for political reasons.
However, Ablyazov is also a controversial figure in the UK who is being sued for £2.4bn in civil actions, and is alleged to be behind a fraud of up to £7.6bn. The Royal Bank of Scotland, 83% owned by the UK government, is among BTA's creditors.
Last month his brother-in-law Syrym Shalabayev was sentenced in his absence to 18 months in prison for assisting Ablyazov in hiding his assets. Ablyazov is fighting attempts by the BTA bank's lawyers to have him jailed for contempt as well.
In December the former banker was told by London's high court that he "cannot be trusted" not to dissipate assets which the court had frozen.
Mr Justice Teare also ruled that Ablyazov, who has settled in a plush part of north London with his wife and three youngest children, should continue to have his passport retained by the court to prevent him leaving the country. He said: "Consideration of his conduct with regard to disclosure of his assets in August/September 2009... has left me unable to trust him not to deal with his assets in breach of the freezing order."
Ablyazov denies the claims against him. The Home Office declined to comment. The Kazakhstan Embassy could not immediately be contacted for comment.
guardian.co.uk
