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Citizenship

Kazakhstan Considers Criminal Penalties for Dual Citizenship

Kazakhstan may soon introduce criminal liability for holding dual citizenship, a significant escalation from the current administrative penalties. The proposal was raised by Mazhilis deputy Bolatbek Nazhmetdinuly during the opening plenary session of the lower house of parliament’s new legislative term. Under Article 10, paragraph 3 of the Constitution and Article 3 of the Law “On Citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” Kazakh citizens are prohibited from holding citizenship of another country. Currently, violations are treated as administrative offenses and are punishable by fines of up to 300 Monthly Calculation Indexes (MRP), equivalent to nearly 1.2 million tenge (approximately $2,200) or administrative expulsion. Deputy Nazhmetdinuly argued that these measures are inadequate. “Those who hold second citizenship are no longer Kazakhstani. They do not feel a part of this country; they enjoy rights without fulfilling obligations. Often, they are beyond the reach of law enforcement due to extradition restrictions. We are aware of many such cases. That is why I will advocate for tougher penalties, up to and including criminal liability. I am confident my colleagues will support this initiative. Is the Ministry of Internal Affairs ready to back it?” he asked Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov. Minister Sadenov responded that the ministry would act in accordance with any new legal norms adopted by parliament. According to the Border Service of the National Security Committee (NSC), 1,190 cases of dual citizenship were identified at Kazakhstan’s borders in 2024, including 91 cases in January 2025 alone. Domestically, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) held 675 individuals administratively accountable for dual citizenship in 2024. Of these, 565 had acquired Russian citizenship, while others held citizenship from Turkey (26 cases), the United States (22), and Germany (11). Of those charged, 526 paid fines, while 149 were expelled from Kazakhstan. In January 2025, another 66 individuals were penalized, including 64 for acquiring Russian citizenship and one each for German and Kyrgyz citizenship. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the government continues to support the repatriation of ethnic Kazakhs. As of early 2025, 65 ethnic Kazakhs holding foreign citizenship had received "Ata Zholy" cards, which grant the right to live and work in Kazakhstan for up to ten years.

Gambling

Kazakhstan Considers Criminal Penalties for Promoting Online Casinos

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) has identified 34 bloggers promoting online casinos on social media, with 11 already facing administrative penalties. The agency has stated that fines alone are not deterring repeat offenders and is now considering introducing criminal liability for such activities. A law passed in 2024 strictly prohibits outdoor advertising for bookmakers, online casinos, and betting pools, as well as their promotion in media, films, and video content. According to the FMA, over the past two and a half years, more than 200 illegal gambling operations have been dismantled, and 224 individuals have been held criminally accountable. However, the agency notes that the primary threat now stems from online casinos based abroad. Since the beginning of this year, authorities have blocked more than 17,000 links, mostly mirror sites for foreign platforms. Despite these efforts, some Kazakhstani payment service providers continue to facilitate transactions linked to such websites. The FMA has pledged to intensify investigations into these financial intermediaries. Influencer marketing remains a key channel for online gambling promotion. In the first half of the year alone, 34 influencers were identified as advertising gambling services, with 11 fined. But according to the FMA, revenues from such promotions far exceed the cost of the fines, creating incentives for repeated violations. In response, the agency is exploring whether bloggers’ actions could be legally interpreted as aiding and abetting illegal gambling, a charge similar to promoting financial pyramid schemes, which already carries criminal penalties under Kazakhstani law. Currently, fines for illegal advertising on social media start at 200,000 KZT (approximately $420).

Khrapunov

Ilyas Khrapunov Found in Contempt by U.S. Federal Court

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has ruled in favor of the city of Almaty and BTA Bank, finding Ilyas Khrapunov guilty of contempt of court. New Verdict in Ongoing Legal Battle Federal Judge John G. Koeltl ruled that Khrapunov had violated a prior court order requiring him to report regularly on his assets. He had previously been ordered to pay $221,285.31 in sanctions. “After an independent review, the Court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s findings, which are well-founded and support a finding of civil contempt,” the judge’s statement reads. “Although Khrapunov has demonstrated an inability to pay the $221,285.31 judgment against him at this time, Khrapunov has failed to comply with the clear and unambiguous court order to submit quarterly declarations regarding his financial status.” The latest ruling reaffirms Khrapunov's obligation to fully disclose assets and make efforts to satisfy court judgments. It also includes provisions for further financial penalties in the event of non-compliance. Additionally, Khrapunov has been ordered to reimburse Almaty and BTA Bank for legal costs arising from his misconduct. A Central Figure in Corruption Scandals Ilyas Khrapunov is the son of former Almaty mayor Viktor Khrapunov and the son-in-law of fugitive banker Mukhtar Ablyazov, figures long entangled in corruption investigations. The Kazakh authorities have accused members of both families of large-scale embezzlement and money laundering. Viktor Khrapunov fled Kazakhstan in 2008 and has resided in Switzerland ever since. He was sentenced in absentia in 2018 to 17 years in prison for corruption-related offenses, a judgment he disputes. Ilyas Khrapunov also left Kazakhstan shortly beforehand. Almaty and BTA Bank continue to pursue legal action in U.S. and European courts, alleging that Ablyazov and his associates siphoned billions of dollars through offshore entities. Investigators assert that Khrapunov Jr. played a direct role in the schemes. Pattern of Legal Violations In December 2022, the Southern District Court in New York ruled against Ablyazov and his associates in the amount of $218 million. In June 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York awarded over $32 million in damages to BTA Bank and the City of Almaty, following a jury verdict against Khrapunov and Ablyazov’s associates, Felix Sater, Bayrock Group Inc., Global Habitat Solutions, and MeM Energy Partners LLC. The jury found the defendants liable for misappropriation of property, unjust enrichment, and money had and received, affirming fraud and money laundering schemes impacting Kazakh institutions. The plaintiffs estimated the total damage caused by Viktor Khrapunov and his wife, Leila, at over $300 million, including stalled development of city land and the "alienation of properties." In a related case, in September 2018, a UK court fined Ilyas Khrapunov $500 million for violating an asset freeze order in connection with Ablyazov’s fraudulent activities.

Crime

Kazakhstan Introduces Criminal Liability for Stalking

For the first time, Kazakhstan has established criminal liability for stalking at the legislative level, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office. New Article in the Criminal Code On July 16, 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law amending the Criminal Code to include Article 115-1, titled “Stalking.” The article defines stalking as the unlawful pursuit of an individual through persistent attempts to establish contact or conduct surveillance against their will, causing significant harm but without the use of physical violence. Punishments include a fine of up to 200 monthly calculation indices (MCI), up to 200 hours of community service, or arrest for up to 50 days. If stalking involves threats, blackmail, or invasion of privacy, it may be prosecuted under other provisions of the Criminal Code. “The purpose of introducing this liability is to protect victims at an early stage and to establish zero tolerance for violent and aggressive behavior,” the Prosecutor General’s Office stated. From Proposal to Law The idea to criminalize stalking was first raised in 2023 during a coordination council meeting at the Prosecutor General’s Office. Marat Abishev, head of the Service for the Protection of Public Interests, highlighted the growing prevalence of obsessive harassment, particularly targeting women. “Women are increasingly faced with the phenomenon of stalking, that is, obsessive persecution,” he said. Abishev noted that many countries, including Germany, the US, Canada, the UK, Norway, Poland, Moldova, the Netherlands, and India, have long established criminal penalties for stalking. In contrast, Kazakhstan lacked even administrative regulation until now. Abishev initially proposed studying the issue and introducing relevant amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. However, the country has since taken a stronger stance by enacting full criminal liability. The General Prosecutor’s Office urges citizens not to ignore signs of stalking. “In such situations, it is necessary to immediately contact the internal affairs authorities,” the agency advised. How to Identify Stalking In an interview with MIR24.TV, lawyer Artem Baghdasaryan explained that under the new Kazakh legislation, stalking involves intrusive, repeated attempts to contact or monitor a person against their will, resulting in significant psychological or personal harm but without physical violence. He emphasized that stalking is defined by systematic behavior rather than isolated incidents. Key indicators include: Continuous surveillance near the victim’s home or in public Frequent phone calls, text messages, or unwanted social media interactions Collecting personal data without consent, such as routes or contacts Lurking in public places frequented by the victim Internationally, this list often includes online harassment and the sending of unsolicited gifts. Comparison with International Practice Many Western countries have recognized stalking as a criminal offense since the 1990s, with laws in the US, UK, and Germany carrying prison terms for offenders. In contrast, Russia has not yet adopted a separate criminal statute. There, lawmakers have proposed a phased approach: beginning with administrative liability and restraining orders, followed by criminal prosecution for repeat offenses. “While Kazakhstan has taken a decisive step by introducing a criminal article right away, Russia is moving toward gradual...

Civil Aviation

Kazakhstan Grounds Light Aircraft Following Two Fatal Crashes

Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee, working alongside the Aviation Administration, has temporarily suspended flights of TL-2000 and Aerostar R40F light aircraft following two fatal crashes near Astana in recent months. The suspensions are intended to allow for thorough investigations of both incidents. On June 22, 2025, a privately owned TL-2000 light aircraft crashed during a training flight near Zholaman Airfield, resulting in the deaths of both people on board. The accident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. A special investigation commission was established by the Ministry of Transport to determine the cause. On August 17, 2025, an Aerostar R40F (registration UP-LA229) crashed during a general aviation flight about 55 kilometers from Astana in the Akmola region. The crash resulted in the death of both the pilot and passenger. A commission was dispatched by the Ministry of Transport’s accident investigation department to the crash site, including representatives from the Transport Police and regional authorities. Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev confirmed that each incident is being investigated independently, and that both aircraft models will remain grounded until the investigations conclude. The Civil Aviation Committee, in collaboration with the Aviation Administration, has suspended flights of both TL-2000 and Aerostar R40F aircraft models pending investigation results. The investigation into the June TL-2000 crash is ongoing, with final conclusions expected before the end of 2025.

Espionage

Kazakhstan Confirms Detention of Military Attaché Worker in Poland

Defense officials in Kazakhstan said on Wednesday that Polish security agencies have detained a worker in the Kazakh military attaché´s office, two weeks after the Polish government announced the arrest of a military intelligence officer from a post-Soviet country who is suspected of espionage. “The International Relations Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan confirms the fact of the detention of an employee of the apparatus of the Kazakh military attaché by the Polish law enforcement agencies,” the ministry said on Telegram. The statement, which came after media reports about the arrest circulated in Kazakhstan, said efforts were underway to “resolve this situation” and that measures are also being taken to protect “the rights and legitimate interests” of the detained citizen. Kazakhstan’s government didn’t comment on why its employee was detained. Without naming sources, some media reports in the Central Asian country have said it is the same person suspected by Polish authorities of spying. Tomasz Siemoniak, a member of Poland’s Council of Ministers and coordinator of special services, said on X on Aug. 1 that, two days previously, “officers of the Internal Security Agency detained a citizen of one of the Asian countries that emerged after the collapse” of the Soviet Union. “He is a career military intelligence officer who conducted espionage activities detrimental to the security of the Republic of Poland and allied military structures,” Siemoniak said. “The National Prosecutor’s Office brought charges against him, and on August 1, 2025, the suspect was remanded in custody for three months by a court decision.” Siemoniak did not specify the alleged threat to military interests. Poland has been one of Europe’s staunchest supporters of Ukraine in its war against Russia, serving as a conduit for military and other supplies to Ukrainian forces across their shared border. Kazakhstan has aimed for a pragmatic or neutral position on the conflict, maintaining close ties with Moscow while also, in a nod to Ukraine, speaking in support of the territorial integrity of sovereign states under the U.N. Charter. Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland also announced the arrest of an alleged spy, saying “anyone who threatens the security of the Polish state will be caught, sooner or later.” Poland’s Internal Security Agency said the suspect had conducted espionage while “operating under diplomatic cover in a European country.”