 Mussayev described the verdict as "politically motivated" and an "attempt to please Kazakhstan".During the trial, Mussayev claimed not to know Ildar A., but he admitted in press comments soon after that this was not entirely accurate, as he knew the defendant professionally but not personally; he explained the discrepancy by claiming that his oath to Kazakhstan prevented him from revealing this information.In 2015, Mussayev faced charges for the abduction and murder of two bankers in the Nurbank murder case.