Police and border guards detained the Russian rapper Navai, real name Navai Bakirov, at the Korday checkpoint as he entered Kazakhstan by car from Kyrgyzstan on 13 October 2026.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] His manager and driver were with him.[12][2][3][13][14] A service dog named Atlas reacted to the car, and officers found a narcotic substance in the pocket of the driver’s seat[1][2][3][15][5][6][8][16], along with a bag with rolling papers and a grinder.[12][3] Journalist Mikhail Kozachkov wrote that it was 2.5 g of marijuana[5][7][8][10]; Baza, citing checkpoint staff, claimed 10 grams.[2][13][14] All three were detained and placed in temporary detention[12][7][8]; the two others were later released[8], while investigators established who owned the substance.[5][7]

The case

Police opened a criminal case for attempted smuggling of narcotics[1][5][7][8][11] under Article 286 of the Criminal Code, which allows up to five years in prison[3]; the charges were reported as smuggling and unlawful transportation of narcotics without intent to sell.[4][8] The Korday district court ordered him held in custody for two months.[4][15][13][10][14][11] Questioned, he admitted buying the drugs in Bishkek[13][6][10][14][11], and Kyrgyzstan’s border service opened an internal inquiry into how he crossed with them.[13][11] On 20 October police said the case had been closed on non-rehabilitating grounds, citing a first offence and active remorse, and that he had been expelled from Kazakhstan.[17][14]

The tour

Navai had been due to perform on 14 October at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace in Astana; the concert was cancelled for reported technical reasons[1][2][3][4][5][8][10] and postponed indefinitely, with refunds for spectators.[5][8][11] His tour had run since 9 July through Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Moldova, with a concert in Bishkek on 12 October[5]; he had been in Tashkent shortly before.[3] The Chisinau concert planned for 16 October was moved to 8 December.[10]

His mother, Ainur Bakirova, said she did not believe he was involved and suggested the substance could have been planted, and that security staff had told her he would be released and pay a fine.[12][8] His director Rauf Gusanov declined to comment.[8]