Kazakhstan Justice - The Times Of Central Asia

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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.

Nursultan Nazarbayev

Old Kazakhstan in Retreat: The Fate of Nazarbayev’s Allies

Since early 2022, the influence of the so-called “Old Kazakhstan” - the political and business circle that once surrounded former President Nursultan Nazarbayev — has been steadily eroded. Institutions have been reshaped, loyalties tested, and the once-untouchable elite has found itself under unprecedented scrutiny. Yet the names of Nazarbayev and his closest allies still surface regularly in courtrooms, parliament debates, and media headlines. Are these prosecutions and investigations an attempt to build President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s vision of a “Fair Kazakhstan,” or do they mark a new phase of elite score-settling under the banner of reform? The Times of Central Asia examined the fortunes of six figures from Nazarbayev’s inner circle to trace the shifting balance of power. Nurbоl Nazarbayev Recent headlines have revived scrutiny of Nazarbayev's nephew Nurbоl Nazarbayev, the son of his late brother Bolat. Authorities have launched bankruptcy proceedings against him, citing debts of approximately 58 billion tenge ($107 million). His assets and bank accounts have been frozen, and he is subject to travel restrictions. Under the current law, Nurbоl will be barred from taking out loans for five years, registering as an individual entrepreneur, or conducting major financial transactions without notifying the relevant authorities. His assets may be liquidated to repay creditors, with the exception of his primary residence. Once listed as Kazakhstan’s 57th richest businessman by Forbes Kazakhstan, he held ownership stakes in Prime Capital Invest and Prime Capital Holding, was a co-owner of PLS Construction Company and PLS-TM, and the majority shareholder of the Almaty Heavy Machinery Plant. This legal action follows a parliamentary inquiry into a previously sealed court case initiated by the General Prosecutor’s Office. The court ordered the confiscation of assets worth 57 billion tenge ($105.5 million) and imposed a fine of 925 million tenge ($1.7 million), along with penalties totaling 230.4 million tenge ($425,000). Members of parliament, Rinat Zaitov and Ermurat Bapi, have both demanded transparency in the case. Zaitov called for a comprehensive audit of Nurbоl’s assets, including those linked to the Altyn Orda market and land plots in Almaty and its surrounding areas. Shortly afterward, Bapi echoed the call, referencing a complaint from a Karaganda businessman who claimed his company was seized in a raid involving Nazarbayev’s circle. Bapi criticized law enforcement for closing the case, calling it “a betrayal of the President’s vision of a Fair Kazakhstan.” Zhomart Ertayev Zhomart Ertayev, a flamboyant banker once sentenced to 11 years for embezzling 144 billion tenge ($266 million) from Bank RBK, was unexpectedly released earlier this year under an amnesty, according to the Committee of the Penal System. However, a month later, parliament deputy Abzal Kuspan announced that the court’s decision had been overturned, and a formal appeal to the Prosecutor General’s Office led to Ertayev’s re-arrest. Ertayev previously held refugee status and a Russian residence permit, both of which were revoked after Kazakhstan issued an international warrant for his arrest. Kairat Boranbayev Kairat Boranbayev, a prominent businessman and former in-law of the Nazarbayev family, was arrested in 2022 and...

Women's Rights

Montenegro Will Not Extradite NeMolchi Founder to Kazakhstan

The authorities in Montenegro have decided that the director of Kazakhstan’s NeMolchi.kz (Don’t be silent) foundation, Dina Smailova (Tansari), will not be deported to Kazakhstan, where she faces charges of knowingly disseminating false information, violation of privacy, and fraud. Smailova’s Legal Battles and Exile Since 2017, Smailova has faced a plethora of criminal cases. In 2021, she left Kazakhstan and relocated to Georgia. After she departed, Almaty police launched new inquiries against her. In June 2022, Smailova said that these investigations were opened “because I criticize the activities of the Almaty police, because I demand the resignation of the leadership, because I do not recognize the police who torture our people in their dungeons!” In early 2024, Smailova left Georgia and requested asylum in the European Union, and in April of that year, she was detained in Montenegro based on an Interpol warrant from Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry. Kazakhstan and Montenegro do not have an extradition agreement, so Montenegrin officials needed time to consider the Kazakh authorities’ request to repatriate Smailova to Kazakhstan. Smailova was therefore quickly freed from custody but remained in Montenegro, and in July, she and her husband, Almat Mukhamedzhanov, were granted international protection status in the country, signaling that she was unlikely to be extradited. On September 4, Montenegro’s Supreme Court ruled to deny Kazakhstan’s request for her extradition, and on September 12, Smailova wrote on Facebook that the decision had come into force. NeMolchi.kz is an organization that defends the rights of women and children in Kazakhstan and reports on incidents of domestic violence, a problem that has become more visible in the country in recent years. Violence against women has become a priority issue for the Kazakh government, especially since the high-profile murder of a young woman named Saltanat Nukenova in 2023. The Nukenova Case and Public Outcry Saltanat Nukenova was killed in an Astana restaurant by her husband, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a former Kazakh Minister of National Economy. Bishimbayev was convicted of taking bribes and, in March 2018, was sentenced to ten years in prison. His term was later reduced to four years, and he was eventually released early in December 2020. On November 9, 2023, Bishimbayev and Nukenova went to an Astana restaurant where they had a private room reserved. Bishimbayev and Nukenova quarreled, following which Bishimbayev severely beat his wife, then waited several hours while she lay dying from head injuries he inflicted on her before calling for medical help. Later that same month, it was reported that the police in East Kazakhstan Province had started investigating Smailova for fraud. Police questioned “hundreds” of people who had donated to NeMolchi.kz, on the suspicion that Smailova had used some of the donated money for personal purchases. Before the end of 2023, formal charges were lodged against Smailova, and Kazakhstan put out an international warrant for her arrest. Bishimbayev’s trial was televised and drew a huge audience in Kazakhstan. He was found guilty and sentenced to 24 years in prison. The details of the beating of...

Crime

Kazakh Businessman Almaz Zaripov Detained in Bishkek

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) has confirmed the detention of Kazakh citizen Almaz Zaripov, president of the Agrarian and Industrial Union of Kazakhstan, in Bishkek. The arrest, which occurred at the end of August, followed a public appeal by Zaripov’s wife to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which garnered widespread attention on social media. According to Kyrgyz authorities, the case stems from a March 2025 complaint by two Bishkek residents. The complainants allege that a 51-year-old man offered them a “lucrative business” opportunity involving grain imports from Kazakhstan. After transferring $2.5 million, the alleged supplier ceased communication and disappeared. Zaripov's wife claims the charges are fabricated and alleges the real motive is to seize the company’s assets and extort a large sum of money. The SCNS rejected these accusations, stating that a criminal case was opened based on a Kyrgyz citizen’s complaint of embezzlement. “During the investigation, this fact was confirmed. The citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan was detained, charged, and the court imposed a preventive measure in the form of detention for the duration of the investigation. The investigation is being conducted in full compliance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic,” the agency said in a statement. The committee added that Zaripov has pleaded guilty and has begun compensating the victims. Authorities are considering whether to revise the conditions of his detention. This is not the first time a Kazakh national has faced legal trouble in Kyrgyzstan. Earlier, businessman Kamalutin Khalikov was placed on a wanted list on charges of financing the criminal group led by Kamchybek Asanbek, also known as Kamchy Kolbayev, who was killed during a police operation on October 4, 2023.

Asset Recovery

From Mansions to Classrooms: Kazakhstan Turns Corruption Assets into Public Good

Kazakhstan is actively reclaiming assets obtained through corrupt practices and redirecting them toward social development. Confiscated properties, including luxury mansions, high-end vehicles, and even ancient jewelry, are being allocated for public benefit, particularly in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. These efforts form part of a broader anti-corruption campaign under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which aims to transform stolen wealth into schools, hospitals, and public services while restoring public trust in government. Luxury Assets Reallocated for Public Use Over the past several years, billions of dollars in assets have been returned to the state budget. On September 5, officials announced that a luxurious mansion formerly owned by convicted ex-Prime Minister and ex-head of the National Security Committee Karim Massimov had been transferred to the Ministry of Education. Located in Astana, the property will be converted into a center for children with special needs. Initially slated for auction, the villa was withdrawn from sale and reassigned for social use. Massimov, who was sentenced in 2023 to 18 years in prison for high treason, attempted coup, and abuse of office, had amassed large amounts of property and luxury goods now being liquidated or redirected to state use. [caption id="attachment_35913" align="aligncenter" width="1303"] Image: National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan; a luxury mansion once owned by ex-Prime Minister Karim Massimov, complete with a disco bar, private theater, pool, and 30 rooms[/caption] This approach is not limited to Massimov’s holdings. In 2025, assets belonging to Perizat Kairat, the founder of a high-profile charity fund, were confiscated after she and her mother were convicted of embezzling donations meant for flood victims. The case shocked the country, as Kairat had been celebrated for her volunteer work before investigations revealed widespread fraud. She received a 10-year prison sentence while her mother was given seven years. Their seized property included a private house and apartments in Astana, along with luxury vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz S450, Lexus LX 600, and Mercedes EQS 500. Authorities announced that these assets would be auctioned, with proceeds used to compensate victims defrauded by the foundation. [caption id="attachment_35911" align="aligncenter" width="649"] Image: Instagram; Perizat Kairat in Abu Dhabi[/caption] A Legal Framework for Asset Recovery A legal framework for asset recovery underpins these actions. In July 2023, Tokayev signed the Law “On the Return of Illegally Acquired Assets to the State,” targeting entities involved in large-scale corruption and oligopolistic practices. The law established an Asset Recovery Committee and a state management company to oversee confiscated property. It also created mechanisms to repatriate funds hidden abroad. Since its adoption, Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency has recovered approximately 1.12 trillion KZT, ($2.1 billion) in assets and funds. These reclaimed resources are being reinvested in critical sectors. Examples of reallocated property illustrate the scale of the initiative. In Almaty, the Kaisar Tower business center, once privately owned, was transferred to the Kazakh National Women’s Pedagogical University. Another building in the city was handed over to the T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts. In Astana, three mansions confiscated from corrupt officials are...