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Crime

Secret 450-Meter Smuggling Tunnel Uncovered on Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Border

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency has uncovered a secret underground tunnel used to smuggle petroleum products across the border with Uzbekistan. The tunnel, discovered in the Turkestan region, extended 450 meters underground. According to the agency, a transnational criminal group operated the tunnel for approximately two months, using it to illegally transport fuel and lubricants. The scheme reportedly involved foreign financing and a carefully organized logistics network to facilitate cross-border smuggling. The operation to dismantle the network was coordinated by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Turkestan region and the Department of Financial Monitoring, with assistance from Uzbek law enforcement. Authorities have identified all members of the group, including several Uzbek nationals. Five Kazakh citizens have been formally named as suspects. Officials confirmed that the investigation is complete and the case has been referred to court. This is not the first such case. In December 2024, a similar tunnel was discovered under joint operations between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. That tunnel also measured around 450 meters and was used to move an estimated 5 to 7 tons of fuel daily. In April 2024, Kyrgyz authorities uncovered a separate underground passage in the Jalal-Abad region along the border with Uzbekistan. That tunnel was reportedly used for smuggling both people and goods. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Osh regional police department, officers arrested a woman from Uzbekistan who had illegally entered Kyrgyz territory through the tunnel. These repeated discoveries highlight the persistence and complexity of smuggling operations across Central Asia’s borders. Authorities in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have intensified joint efforts to locate and dismantle underground smuggling routes used by organized criminal groups. Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency emphasized that cross-border cooperation will continue in order to prevent similar incidents and strengthen regional border security.

Fraud

Embezzlement Scandal at Kazakh Charity Fund Implicates Influential Officials

A high-profile scandal is unfolding in Kazakhstan involving the alleged embezzlement of billions of tenge from the Biz Birgemiz Qazaqstan (“We Are Together”) charity fund. Testimony from the fund’s embattled director, Perizat Kairat, alongside ongoing press investigations, has implicated several prominent officials. The Rise and Fall of Perizat Kairat Charitable giving in Kazakhstan remains underdeveloped, with many humanitarian organizations struggling to secure adequate funding. The Biz Birgemiz Qazaqstan fund, however, stood out. Backed by donations from large banks, business leaders, and individuals, it quickly amassed substantial sums. Established in June 2021, the fund came under scrutiny after Kairat’s arrest in November 2024. She was initially charged with embezzling more than KZT 1.5 billion ($2.8 million) raised during the spring 2024 floods, the worst to hit Kazakhstan in 80 years, affecting twelve regions and leaving thousands homeless. Subsequent investigations raised the alleged embezzled amount to KZT 2.9 billion ($5.4 million). The authorities claim Kairat and her mother, Gaini Alashbaeva, used the funds to purchase luxury real estate, vehicles, designer goods, and pay for lavish travel. Funds collected for humanitarian aid to Gaza residents were also reportedly misappropriated. Additional allegations include collecting over KZT 105 million ($200,000) for festivals such as Central Asia Fest and Almaty Uni, which were never held, and for a rehabilitation center, which was never built. Support for the fund was boosted by advertising through Kazakhstan’s largest financial platform, Kaspi.kz, which promoted it within its mobile app. During court proceedings, Kaspi.kz confirmed transferring KZT 620 million ($1.2 million) to the fund. Another major contributor, Jusan Bank (now Alatau City Bank), reportedly also donated KZT 300 million ($560,000). Misplaced Trust Public trust in the fund was bolstered by the widespread belief that it was affiliated with the state. For instance, an elderly woman from Pavlodar testified that she donated KZT 1 million, believing it was a government initiative. Parents from Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) who transferred KZT 901,000 are now demanding its return to assist a seriously ill teacher. Witnesses claim Kairat collected cash through intermediaries using large market-style bags. Political Connections and Allegations Perizat Kairat’s defense has drawn high-level political figures into the spotlight. On July 14, she requested the court summon Bauyrzhan Baybek, former mayor of Almaty and ex-first deputy chairman of the ruling Amanat Party (formerly Nur Otan), for questioning. Kairat alleges that the fund was “created under the leadership of Baybek,” claiming all its founders, except herself, were current or former party employees. Amanat, Kazakhstan’s dominant political party, has publicly denied any connection to Kairat or the foundation. Though President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev resigned from the party leadership in April 2022, Amanat remains politically influential and retains close ties to many government officials. Kazakh outlet Orda.kz examined Kairat’s social media to explore potential links between the fund and state institutions. It found the foundation's founders had associations with the BizBirgemiz volunteer movement, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic under a state initiative of the same name. Just a month after its registration, the foundation hosted a charity...

Crocus City Hall Terrorist Attack

Closed Court Begins for 19 Suspects in Crocus City Hall Attack

The Second Western District Military Court in Moscow has begun preliminary closed-door proceedings for 19 suspects charged in the March 22, 2024, terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, according to Russian state agency TASS. The attack left 149 people dead and caused an estimated 6 billion rubles in damages. Court spokesperson Irina Zhirnova stated that the session would follow Article 234 of the Russian Criminal Procedure Code, meaning a single judge will preside over the preliminary hearing, which is not open to the public. “We will take unprecedented security measures,” she added. Federal security personnel are tasked with guarding the courtroom. The case will be heard by a three-judge panel. The evidence dossier spans more than 470 volumes and includes forensic materials and the results of over 200 expert examinations. A key issue still to be resolved is the trial venue: facilities at Moscow City Court are under renovation and cannot accommodate all parties involved in the high-profile case. The court has not yet determined whether the main trial will be open to the public and the media. Under Russian law, that decision will be made when the main hearing opens and the indictment is formally read. The court retains the right to close any session in the interest of security. The Prosecutor’s Case According to TASS’s summary of the prosecution’s case, two wanted Tajik nationals and several unidentified individuals allegedly acted “in the interests of Ukraine’s political leadership.” They are accused of organizing three cells of the extremist group “Vilayat Khorasan,” affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS), and of recruiting 19 Tajik citizens, appealing to their religious beliefs. The defendants include Shamsiddin Fariduni, Dalerjon Mirzoev, Muhammadsobir Faizov, and Saidakram Muradali Rachabalizoda, all of whom are on Russia’s official list of banned terrorists. Prosecutors allege that Rachabalizoda, Faizov, Mirzoev, and Fariduni were instructed to carry out the armed assault and arson at Crocus City Hall. Other defendants, such as the Islomov brothers and Alisher Kasimov, allegedly provided financial and logistical support, including accommodations and vehicles. Hussein Medov, Jabrayil Aushev, and others are accused of manufacturing and delivering weapons and ammunition. The Soliev brothers, along with suspects Ismoilov, Gadoev, and Hamidov, reportedly helped transport arms to the attackers. Prosecutors say Rachabalizoda’s cellmates also contributed funds. Following the attack, the four main perpetrators attempted to flee to Ukraine but were apprehended in Russia’s Bryansk Region and later transferred to Moscow for trial. Security and Legal Implications The Crocus City Hall attack shocked the whole of Russia. In response, the military court is conducting the preliminary phase behind closed doors amid heightened security. The upcoming full trial will establish a timeline for the presentation of evidence by both the defense and prosecution. It will culminate in verdicts and, if found guilty, sentences under Russia’s anti-terrorism laws.

AZAL Plane Crash

Despite Kazakh-led Inquiry, Azerbaijan to Take Plane Crash Case to International Courts

After months of collaborating with an investigation led by Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan now also plans to seek redress in international courts over the Dec. 25, 2024, crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane that it says was hit by Russian ground fire before diverting to the western Kazakh city of Aktau. Azerbaijan’s turn to international institutions reflects frustration with what it views as Russian intransigence in the investigation of what happened to Flight 8243, as well as the sensitivities for Kazakhstan as it leads a probe that could implicate Russia, its powerful neighbor and key trading partner. In a sense, Kazakhstan is caught in the middle, unable so far to satisfy Azerbaijan’s push for accountability for the crash and apparently unable to get full cooperation from Russia in the investigation. Unlike Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan has refrained from criticism of Russia, even though six Kazakhstanis were among those who died in the plane crash, and Kazakh emergency crews went into potential danger after rushing to pull survivors from the wreckage. Kazakhstan’s low-key approach is possibly an outcome of its efforts to appear impartial during the inquiry as well as its policy of maintaining smooth diplomatic ties, despite any disagreements or tension with major regional players, including Russia and China. Flush with military victories over Armenia and buoyed by close ties with allies such as Türkiye, Azerbaijan feels less constrained to nurture its traditional relationship with Moscow, its ruler during Soviet and Russian colonial times. On Saturday, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan referred to years of international investigations and inquiries that found Russia-backed separatist rebels had shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, and that Russia bore responsibility – a conclusion rejected by Moscow. Aliyev said Azerbaijan was prepared to wait just as long to clear up the case of the Azerbaijan Airlines crash, in which 38 of 67 people on board died. “We will not forget,” Aliyev said, according to Minval Politika, an Azerbaijani news outlet. “We are currently preparing, and we have already informed the Russian side that we are preparing a dossier for submission to international courts on this matter. We understand that this may take time. In the case of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing, it took more than ten years. We are ready to wait ten years, but justice must prevail.” The remarks by Azerbaijan’s leader at a media forum in the Azerbaijani city of Shusha show that ties between the two nations face protracted tension as long as the dispute persists, though there are other sources of friction between them, including detentions of each other’s citizens. Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized for the crash without taking responsibility or providing details about what happened at a time when, according to Russia, the area around Grozny was under attack from Ukrainian drones. Azerbaijan also wants those responsible to be punished, compensation to be paid to families of the victims, and Azerbaijan Airlines to be compensated for the loss of the Embraer 190 plane that crashed. The aircraft...

Healthcare

White Coats, Red Lines: Kazakhstan Health Minister Demands End to Violence

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Health, Akmaral Alnazarova, has issued a public appeal urging an end to violence against medical personnel, following two brutal attacks on healthcare workers in Karaganda and Kostanay. “Dear citizens of Kazakhstan, I am addressing you as a specialist who has worked as a nurse in a maternity hospital, as a doctor in the emergency room of a children’s hospital, as a duty officer, and as a resident; stop the violence against medical workers!” Alnazarova wrote on Instagram. Two Violent Incidents in One Week In Karaganda, a 42-year-old man accompanying his wife allegedly attacked a nurse at a private clinic, breaking down the door to the staff room and assaulting her. The nurse was hospitalized with a concussion and finger fractures. The assailant was later placed in a psychiatric clinic. Just one day later, on July 17, a young urologist at the Kostanay Regional Hospital was struck in the head by a waiting patient after completing a complex operation. The blow left the doctor unconscious with a skull fracture and brain trauma. He remains in intensive care. The attacker, a 34-year-old man, was detained, and a criminal investigation has been launched. “These are not just acts of aggression, they are direct blows to the entire healthcare system,” Alnazarova said. “This crime means dozens of patients not being admitted, dozens of postponed operations. The emergency room where the attack occurred is already a high-risk area.” Alnazarova emphasized that medical professionals deserve respect and gratitude, not violence. The recent attacks have ignited widespread concern across Kazakhstan’s medical community, with professional associations and hospital administrators calling for urgent reforms. The Kazakhstan Medical Workers’ Union issued a statement expressing solidarity with the victims and demanding swift prosecutions, while several regional hospitals have begun independently reviewing their on-site security protocols. Social media campaigns under hashtags like #ProtectOurDoctors and #SafetyInScrubs have gained traction, signaling growing public awareness that systemic change is needed to ensure healthcare workers can do their jobs without fear. Government Plans Tighter Security Measures The Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is set to bolster security measures in medical facilities across the country. Plans include deploying round-the-clock security posts at emergency rooms, maternity wards, and children’s hospitals. Facilities will be equipped with surveillance cameras, panic buttons, and enhanced security staff. In parallel, legislative amendments aimed at toughening penalties for violence against medical workers are expected to be submitted to Parliament in September. Alnazarova stated that such crimes should be treated not as domestic incidents but as threats to public safety. Although the Criminal Code was amended in December 2023 to include penalties for harming medical staff, Alnazarova acknowledged that the recent incidents demonstrate these measures are insufficient. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a pilot program equipping ambulance workers with body cameras is already underway. The minister noted this initiative helps moderate the behavior of both patients and staff. Plans are also in place to reinstate police presence in hospitals and impose stricter...

Travel Ban

Travel Ban Overturned: Turkmen Woman and Her Daughter Rejoin Family in Turkey

After nearly a year of separation, Zulfiya Kazhir and her six-year-old daughter Sena have finally been allowed to leave Turkmenistan and reunite with their family in Turkey. The case drew widespread public attention after the pair, Zulfiya, a Turkmen citizen, and Sena, a Turkish citizen, were detained while attempting to leave the country in September 2024. The long-awaited reunion took place on July 15, and a video capturing the emotional moment was shared on TikTok by Zulfiya’s husband, Turkish national Ahmed Sefa Kacir. A Sudden Separation In the summer of 2024, Zulfiya traveled to Turkmenistan with Sena to renew her documents. However, their scheduled return flight on September 18 was abruptly halted when Zulfiya was denied boarding at Ashgabat airport. Authorities cited her temporary placement on a no-fly list, though no further explanation was provided at the time. Only later did Turkmenistan’s migration service inform her that she was subject to a travel ban. Despite numerous appeals to both Turkmen and Turkish authorities, the family’s efforts to lift the restriction proved unsuccessful for many months. The situation was especially dire due to Sena’s medical and developmental needs. Diagnosed with gluten intolerance and autism spectrum disorder, she requires a specific diet, regular hygiene protocols, and access to developmental therapy, services largely unavailable in Turkmenistan. Collective Punishment After nearly ten months of legal and diplomatic stalemate, Zulfiya learned that the travel ban was linked to her brother’s alleged involvement in armed conflicts in Syria. Although he had not lived in Turkmenistan for over 20 years and Zulfiya had no contact with him, her name was included on a restricted travel list alongside other relatives, a practice critics describe as a form of collective punishment. A Direct Plea to the President As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, frustrated by the lack of progress, Zulfiya recorded a video appeal to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, calling for an end to the restriction on her freedom of movement. In the message, she identified her family as ethnic Tatars and explained that her mother and sister also hoped to leave for Tatarstan, their ancestral homeland. “Let me and my daughter return home,” she pleaded in the video, which was widely circulated online. Shortly afterward, the travel ban was lifted. On July 15, her husband posted a video from the airport showing the family’s emotional reunion, filled with hugs, tears, and relief, marking the conclusion of their nearly year-long ordeal.