Kazakhstan Justice - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 7 - 12 of 237

Corruption

Kazakhstan vs. Eni: Who Is the Key Figure in the Swiss Lawsuit?

Kazakhstan’s $166 billion legal campaign against the oil majors, Shell, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, and Eni has expanded to Switzerland. According to Bloomberg, PSA LLP, representing Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy, has launched proceedings aimed at strengthening the country’s position in ongoing international arbitration. Astana is seeking roughly $15 million plus interest from several companies and individuals accused of corruption in projects managed by subsidiaries of Italy’s Eni. The Swiss case centers on evidence already presented in courts in the U.S. and Italy, which Kazakhstan aims to use to prove allegations of bribery in arbitration hearings. Documents submitted by Kazakhstan to a U.S. court claim that contractors providing services to Eni implemented an “illegal scheme” to secure inflated contracts. One such contract was allegedly amended eleven times, with its value rising from $88 million to more than $490 million. While several contractors were convicted by an Italian court in 2017, no Eni employees were found guilty. Kazakh journalist Oleg Chervinsky, known for his coverage of the oil and gas sector, has highlighted that Kazakhstan is requesting the Swiss court to look into Maksat Idenov, a former first vice president of KazMunayGas, who led negotiations with Kashagan project partners between 2007 and 2008. Chervinsky recalls a dramatic episode in 2010, when Idenov resigned from KazMunayGas via a letter sent from abroad using DHL. He subsequently took a senior role at Eni. A U.S. court has approved his questioning for use in the Swiss proceedings, and his representative says he has already testified. “New revelations await us!” Chervinsky asserted. That confidence may be justified. A glance at Idenov’s career reveals his central role in Kazakhstan’s energy sector since 1992, when he began as chief legal counsel at the state holding MunaiGas. In 1993, he became assistant to the Minister of Oil and Gas Industry, and by 1995, he was serving as deputy head of the Energy Department for Europe and Central Asia at the International Bank for Reconstruction in Washington, D.C. He returned to Kazakhstan in 1999 as an advisor to then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Caspian energy and oil and gas export pipelines. In that role, he worked on the legal status of the Caspian Sea and other strategic projects. Idenov joined Shell in 2004 as regional vice president for strategic and commercial development in the Middle East, South Asia, and the Caspian region. In 2007, he became the first vice president of KazMunayGas. Three years later, in July 2010, he was appointed senior vice president for strategic planning at Eni. During his time at KazMunayGas, Idenov appeared in U.S. embassy cables later released by WikiLeaks. In one, he reportedly told the U.S. ambassador during a private dinner that the four most influential figures around President Nazarbayev were the Presidential Chief of Staff, Sarybay Kalmurzaev, Head of the Presidential Administration, Aslan Musin, State Secretary and Foreign Minister, Kanat Saudabayev, and the tandem of Prime Minister Karim Massimov and Nazarbayev’s son-in-law, billionaire Timur Kulibayev. Another cable described the rationale for Idenov’s appointment as lead negotiator on...

Domestic Violence

Survey Finds Decline in Kazakh Women Who Justify Domestic Violence

Recent data reveals a marked shift in attitudes toward domestic violence among women in Kazakhstan. While the number of women who justify abuse has declined, certain demographic groups continue to condone it under specific circumstances. These findings are based on a study conducted by analysts at Finprom.kz. Sharp Decline in Justifying Abuse Multi-indicator surveys conducted by the National Statistics Bureau in 2015 and 2024 show a significant decrease in the number of women who view domestic violence as acceptable. Approximately 14,400 women aged 15 to 49 participated in the survey. In 2015, 15.1% of respondents said a man has the right to hit his wife or partner. By 2024, this figure had dropped to just 4%. Respondents who deemed such violence acceptable were asked to specify the justification. The most commonly cited reason was neglect of children (2.8%), followed by refusal to do housework (1.6%), disobedience to the husband (1%), and leaving the house without permission (0.8%). Smaller shares justified violence due to refusal of intimacy (0.3%) or “burning food” (0.2%). Analysts interpret the declining acceptance of these views as a sign of changing social norms and an evolving understanding of women's roles within the family. Who Is More Likely to Justify Violence? The study revealed a notable divide between urban and rural populations. In rural areas, 6.8% of women still justify domestic violence, down from 20.6% a decade ago. In urban areas, only 2.6% expressed similar views. Regional disparities were also evident. In the Turkestan region, 10% of respondents believed a husband has the right to beat his wife. High levels of acceptance were also recorded in the Zhetysu region (9.5%) and Kostanay (8.8%). In contrast, the Mangistau region (0.2%), Aktobe (0.4%), and Atyrau (0.5%) reported the lowest figures. Age was another key factor. Older women were more likely to justify domestic violence: 4.7% of women aged 45-49 and 3.1% of those aged 40-44 approved of it under certain conditions. Younger women, particularly newlyweds, overwhelmingly rejected violence under any circumstances. Legal Reforms and Shifting Statistics Finprom.kz analysts compared these survey results with changes in criminal justice data. According to the Committee on Legal Statistics, reported criminal offenses related to domestic violence have increased 7.2 fold over the past decade. However, this spike is attributed to legal reforms. Until mid-2024, charges such as “Assault” and “Causing minor harm to health” were considered administrative violations. Following criminalization, reported cases rose sharply. From January to October 2025, 3,000 criminal offenses related to family or domestic violence were recorded, up 21.4% year-on-year. Assaults accounted for more than half of the cases (1,700, up 36.8% from June to October 2024), followed by “intentional infliction of minor bodily harm” (680 cases). Meanwhile, serious crimes showed a decline. Murders fell by 30.1%, rapes by 16.7%, and cases of “intentional infliction of serious harm to health” by 10.5%. Regional commissions on women’s affairs have also reported encouraging trends. The number of calls to crisis centers dropped from 30,500 in 2013 to 12,900 in 2024. Of these, 7,400...

Extradition

Kazakhstan to Seek Extradition of Boxer Dmitry Bivol’s Ex-Wife

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to pursue the extradition of Ekaterina Bivol, the ex-wife of world boxing champion Dmitry Bivol, according to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov. Dmitry Bivol, who was born in Kyrgyzstan and moved to Russia at age 11, married Ekaterina Burdinskaya before rising to prominence in professional boxing. The couple divorced while Bivol held the WBA light heavyweight world title. Following the split, Ekaterina repeatedly posted derogatory comments about Bivol and his relatives on social media. Despite the controversies, Bivol became the undisputed world champion in his weight class in February 2025. In the fall of 2025, a video circulated on social media in which Ekaterina Bivol made offensive remarks about Kyrgyz and Kazakh people. In response, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs launched a preliminary investigation into the distribution of the video material. On October 25, the Pervomaisky District Court in Bishkek issued a preventive detention order and an arrest warrant for Ekaterina Bivol under Article 330 of Kyrgyzstan’s Criminal Code: “Inciting racial, ethnic, national, or interregional discord.” Soon after, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a similar criminal case. The matter is complicated by the fact that Ekaterina Bivol is a citizen of the Russian Federation. However, Adilov stated that Kazakhstan intends to seek her extradition if she is located within Russian territory. “A criminal case has been opened against her, and she has been placed on an international wanted list. The investigation is ongoing. We are in contact with the Russian police through special channels. If she is detained, we will raise the issue of extradition through the Prosecutor General’s Office,” Adilov said in response to journalists’ questions. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that in May, Kazakhstan secured the deportation of Talgat Ardan, the former head of the Astana Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, who was wanted internationally for large-scale embezzlement. He was extradited from Turkey, a process made easier by the fact that he held Kazakh citizenship.

Kazakhstan to Integrate AI into Lawmaking Process

Kazakhstan’s government is preparing to introduce an artificial intelligence–powered assistant to support the development of regulatory legal acts. The intelligent system will analyze international legal practices, monitor developments, and verify that draft laws comply with the Constitution, Vice Minister of Justice Bekbolat Moldabekov announced at a recent briefing. The initiative builds on a broader digitalization agenda already underway at the Ministry of Justice. For instance, an automated legal advisor operates around the clock on the adilet.zan.kz portal, helping to reduce the workload of legal personnel and providing the public with free access to legal information. Since August 2023, the ministry has also operated the Digital Bailiff program, which automatically initiates and processes enforcement proceedings without human intervention. The system has already saved citizens more than $4 million by eliminating fees of up to 25% that were previously charged by private bailiffs. “The next step will be the introduction of a smart assistant that will provide expert support during the drafting of laws,” Moldabekov said. “It will become a full-fledged participant in the rulemaking process, improving the quality, coherence, and legal stability of legislation.” The Digital Bailiff system is expected to be upgraded with AI algorithms to track case progress, notify citizens, and assist with complaints related to enforcement actions. For bailiffs, an intelligent assistant has been launched to monitor deadlines, ensure procedural compliance, and identify errors or inaction. Digital transformation efforts also extend to notarial services. As part of the Digital Notary program, more than 520,000 online services have already been delivered. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan became the first country in Central Asia to appoint a neural network to the board of directors of the state sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna.

Drug Trafficking

Kazakhstan Proposes Cash Rewards for Citizens Who Report Drug Crimes

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs is developing a plan to financially reward citizens who provide information leading to the resolution of drug-related crimes. The initiative was announced by Kuandyk Alzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Combating Drug Crime, during a press conference in Astana. “We are constantly improving legislation related to drug enforcement. Penalties for drug trafficking have been strengthened, and the list of controlled substances is regularly updated,” Alzhanov said. “We are now working with the Prosecutor General’s Office and the National Bank to design a mechanism for converting seized criminal assets into state revenue, and to establish a reward system for citizens who assist in uncovering drug crimes.” Alzhanov noted that regional and city akims of republican significance will now be personally accountable for the drug situation in their jurisdictions. The Ministry has also launched a public testing initiative called Test in Every Home, encouraging Kazakhstani parents to use rapid drug tests to monitor their children. “These tests can identify drug use within minutes and help detect addiction at an early stage,” Alzhanov explained. From January to September 2025, law enforcement agencies seized over 26 tons of narcotics, marking a 35% increase compared to the same period last year. The seizures included more than nine tons of marijuana, over one ton of synthetic drugs, and more than 600 kilograms of hashish. The remainder consisted of raw cannabis plants. Authorities also reported a sharp rise in illicit indoor drug cultivation. In 2025, police shut down 93 illegal greenhouse “phytolaboratories”, a fivefold increase compared to 2024. Alzhanov highlighted tougher penalties for synthetic drug production, including new legislation introduced earlier this year mandating life imprisonment for producers. In 2024, 29 synthetic drug labs were dismantled and 419 kilograms of synthetic drugs were seized. In the first nine months of 2025, authorities closed 12 labs and seized over one ton of synthetic substances, almost three times last year’s amount. These seizures prevented nearly 3 million single doses from entering the illegal market. During the same period, more than 6,000 drug-related offenses were documented, including 1,700 cases of drug sales and 300 cases of large-scale drug storage. Police also dismantled 16 organized criminal groups, three of which operated transnationally. Sixteen group leaders and 60 active members were detained. Authorities also seized roughly 24 tons of chemical substances, including 17 tons of precursors, as well as equipment used in synthetic drug manufacturing. In addition, officials recorded 379 cases of cultivation of narcotic plants, 117 smuggling incidents, and 170 cases of drug-related propaganda. Volunteer-supported raids removed over 25,000 graffiti and online drug resource links, while more than 35,000 bank cards tied to drug trafficking were blocked. Approximately $4.6 million in related funds were frozen. As reported previously by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh authorities seized about six tons of drugs in the first half of 2025 and 21 tons over the entire previous year. This year’s escalation in enforcement underscores a marked intensification of the government’s anti-drug efforts.

Crime

Crimes Against Individuals Decrease in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov has reported a decline in serious crimes and public offenses for the January-September 2025 period. According to Sadenov, comprehensive measures implemented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs have produced tangible results: overall crime fell by 7%, a reduction of 6,000 cases, compared to the same period in 2024. Declines were recorded across key categories, including murder, grievous bodily harm, robbery, assault, hooliganism, and theft. Offenses committed in streets and other public spaces also decreased. “The main thing is people's safety: fewer crimes against individuals means greater protection for citizens,” the minister said. The ministry also reported progress in dismantling criminal organizations. Over the past nine months, 70 criminal cases have been initiated against organized crime groups, including 13 transnational operations, with 248 individuals brought to justice. Priorities include combating illegal extraction of natural resources and ensuring the security of freight transport. Road safety remains a top concern: more than 26,000 traffic accidents have been recorded so far in 2025, although the number of fatalities has decreased. Meanwhile, efforts to prevent domestic violence have intensified. In the same period, over 70,000 protective orders were issued, and 6,500 women and children were referred to crisis centers. To strengthen crime prevention and response, Sadenov has called for broader implementation of digital tools, the development of operational control centers, and improved crime detection rates. Kazakhstan has also expanded its surveillance infrastructure. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, more than 19,000 AI-enabled CCTV cameras have been installed nationwide, enabling law enforcement to respond more quickly to incidents.