Main points
- Nurlan Saburov was banned from entering Russia for 50 years for violating migration laws, and in Kazakhstan his activities are being investigated for possible terrorist financing.
- A Ukrainian lawyer filed a complaint with the SBU, also indicating Saburov's possible involvement in aiding a terrorist organization and financing terrorism.
Nurlan Saburov / Collage of Channel 24
Kazakh comedian Nurlan Saburov, who built his career in Russia, has been banned from entering the terrorist country for 50 years. In addition, his activities are being investigated in his homeland, where he could face criminal charges.
And Ukrainian lawyers have already filed a complaint with the SBU about possible financing of terrorism. How a comedian found himself under the sights of three countries at once – more in the material of Channel 24.
Why was Nurlan Saburov banned from entering Russia?
In May 2025, he was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. The reason was a violation of migration legislation: the comedian exceeded the permitted period of stay in Russia. Against this background, the court ordered him to leave the country and imposed a fine of 5 thousand rubles.
For context! Due to the lack of a Russian passport, Nurlan Saburov is legally considered a foreigner, so he is required to follow strict migration rules in the terrorist country.
At the same time, the artist continued to come to Russia, perform concerts and film comedy shows. On February 6, 2026, when he was returning from the United Arab Emirates, he was again stopped at the airport – this time at Vnukovo. Then it became known that he was banned from entering Russia for 50 years.
Nurlan Saburov / Screenshot from the video
According to propaganda media, the comedian did not wait for official deportation: he simply bought a ticket for the nearest flight and flew to Almaty.
It should be noted that Saburov refused to comment on the situation and referred all questions to his lawyers. “Time will put everything in its place,” the comedian wrote on Instagram at the time and thanked Russia.
We should add that there are currently no publications on his page.
Nurlan Saburov thanked Russia / Screenshot from Instagram stories
However, the story did not end there, as noted on the website of the Russian-language TV channel RTVI.
In Kazakhstan, local activists have appealed to the Prosecutor General's Office to investigate Saburov's activities. A criminal case may be opened against the comedian for mercenary activities over a video in which he transfers motorcycles (pit bikes) to the Wagner Legion Istra unit, which is affiliated with the Wagner PMC, an international criminal and terrorist organization involved in the war against Ukraine.
Under Kazakh law, the maximum penalty under this article is up to 12 years in prison and confiscation of property.
Ukrainian lawyer Yevhen Pronin also filed a complaint with the Security Service of Ukraine. He wrote about this on his page in Threads. The lawyer explained that the comedian's actions may contain signs of aiding a terrorist organization, financing terrorism, participation in illegal armed formations, and mercenary activity in accordance with a number of articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Saburov hoped and wished for “victory” for the Russian terrorist army, let him experience even more joy from the consequences of friendship and financing of the “Russian world”,
– the lawyer emphasized.
Yevhen Pronin filed a complaint with the Security Service of Ukraine regarding the commission of a criminal offense by Nurlan Saburov / Screenshot from Threads
What is known about Saburov's position on the war in Ukraine?
During his 2022 US tour, the comedian was repeatedly asked by the audience to comment on the events in Ukraine, but he avoided giving a direct answer about the war. Saburov explained his silence by fear for his family.
Later, at his concert in San Francisco, Ukrainian activist Yulia Kosivchuk ran onto the stage wearing a white dress covered in red paint, symbolizing Ukraine bleeding. As security escorted the woman out of the hall, the comedian joked about her dress: “Is that your period?” This “joke” sparked a wave of hate towards the comedian.
In addition to the fact that open sources record the facts of Nurlan Saburov's public transfer of equipment to structures associated with the Wagner PMC, Russian publications claim that the comedian allegedly financially supported the Russian army – he transferred about two million rubles “to the front.”
Nurlan Saburov / Photo from his Instagram
Who is Nurlan Saburov?
- The future comedian was born in the Kazakh city of Stepnogorsk.
- After school, he moved to Yekaterinburg, entered the Faculty of Physical Education at the Ural Federal University, where he began playing in KVN and performing stand-up in bars and at open microphones.
- In 2013, he was invited to the show Stand Up on TNT. A year later, he moved to Moscow and began actively building his career in Russia.
- He later released a solo concert, became a mentor for humorous projects, and hosted several entertainment shows. He gained the greatest popularity with the YouTube show “What Was Next?” (ChBD), which garnered millions of views and made him one of the most famous Russian-language comedians.