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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.

Human rights

UN Rules Gulnara Karimova’s Arrest Was Unlawful and Arbitrary

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has determined that the 2014 arrest of Gulnara Karimova, daughter of Uzbekistan’s late President Islam Karimov, was both unlawful and arbitrary. The finding was published in a recent report on the website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Working Group reviewed the case under its standard communications procedure following a petition submitted in late 2024. According to the report, Karimova was detained in February 2014 without a warrant and held under varying conditions, including 18 months of house arrest alongside her child. Her first judicial appearance occurred only on August 21, 2015, reportedly in a hearing conducted in her kitchen. During this period, she was denied a genuine opportunity to contest her detention or understand the charges brought against her. The UN body concluded that Uzbekistan violated several provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the rights to prompt judicial review, to be informed of the charges, and to access legal counsel. International and Domestic Legal Violations Parallel to domestic proceedings, legal action in a third country led to convictions of several co-defendants for laundering over $600 million through companies connected to Karimova. Although her legal team contested asset forfeitures abroad, Karimova has alleged that Uzbek authorities pressured her lawyers to withdraw their motions. The Working Group has called on the Uzbek government to provide Karimova with reparations, including financial compensation, and to conduct a “full and independent investigation” into her arbitrary detention. It also urged accountability for those responsible. The UN panel initially requested the government’s response by February 24, 2025. However, Uzbekistan submitted its response one day late, rendering it procedurally invalid. As a result, the Group issued its opinion based solely on the information available. Both the Uzbek government and the petitioner have been requested to submit updates within six months. These should address whether compensation has been provided, whether an investigation has been conducted, and whether any legal reforms have been implemented in response to the ruling. The decision strengthens the UN’s ongoing calls for Uzbekistan to bring its judicial practices in line with international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Asset Recovery Agreement with Switzerland In a related development, Uzbekistan and Switzerland signed an agreement in February 2025 to return approximately $182 million in assets confiscated from Karimova. The funds had been frozen by Swiss prosecutors in 2012 as part of a wide-ranging corruption investigation. Under the agreement, the funds will be transferred to Uzbekistan through the UN-administered Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Fund. This follows an earlier accord in August 2022 to return $131 million, bringing the total amount of repatriated assets to $313 million. The case of Gulnara Karimova continues to draw comparisons to that of Dariga Nazarbayeva, the eldest daughter of former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. While Karimova faced prosecution and widespread asset seizures, Nazarbayeva retained her political influence and substantial wealth.

Anti-Corruption

What Does the Arrest of a Former Top Anti-Corruption Official Signal for Kazakhstan?

On Friday, July 4, Kazakhstani media erupted with news of the arrest of Talgat Tatubayev, former head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, predecessor to the current Anti-Corruption Agency. Yet the significance of Tatubayev’s arrest may extend far beyond his own record. Many believe the case is the opening move in a broader probe that could ensnare Kairat Kozhamzharov, a former senator and top security official under Kazakhstan’s first president. Tatubayev’s arrest was amplified by a post from Aset Mataev, head of the KazTAG news agency and the son of Seytkazy Mataev, the current chairman of the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan. Both father and son were previously prosecuted during Kozhamzharov’s tenure, a period marked by high-profile anti-corruption investigations, including the conviction of former economy minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev. While Kozhamzharov’s leadership was once praised for exposing major corruption cases, many in Kazakhstan’s media remained skeptical. The elder Mataev's case in particular shook the journalistic community, which saw his prosecution as politically motivated. It is widely believed that the Mataevs were targeted after refusing to sell KazTAG to allies of then-Mazhilis Speaker Nurlan Nigmatulin. “In 2016, I had two encounters with Deputy Head of the Financial Police, Talgat Tatubayev,” Aset Mataev wrote on his Telegram channel. “He offered us a deal under Article 65 of the Criminal Code, exemption from liability in exchange for a guilty plea. Others close to Nigmatulin, Yeseyev, Baybek, Zhumagaliyev, and Mailybayev took that route. We refused”. At the time, the Union of Journalists was gaining influence in the blogosphere amid growing distrust in traditional media. According to Aset Mataev, this created an opportunity for authorities to undermine the Mataevs’ reputation and isolate them professionally. Tatubayev’s damaging interview, published on Ratel.kz, appeared to many as a tool in this campaign. “He tried to intimidate us, saying, ‘We have orders, and we’ll crush you anyway,’” Mataev wrote. After Seytkazy’s arrest, Tatubayev allegedly contacted Aset from his father’s phone, urging him to stop speaking to the press. “He promised the case would be dropped. Of course, he lied. We were tortured until the verdict was handed down, while he gave interviews claiming my father admitted guilt.” Unlike Ratel.kz, which was seen as aligned with certain state actors, other outlets mentioned by Mataev allegedly served figures like Bulat Utemuratov, long considered the financial backer of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and Karim Massimov, who moved from prime minister to head of the National Security Committee in 2016. The Mataev prosecution sparked widespread condemnation among journalists, who viewed it as a watershed moment in Kazakhstan’s clampdown on press freedom. To this day, the Mataev case is widely believed to have been orchestrated by Nigmatulin and his political allies. Now, with Tatubayev under arrest once more, this time for alleged torture in the notorious Khorgos customs embezzlement case, some observers see the return of unfinished business from the “Old Kazakhstan.” Khorgos, a major border post linking Kazakhstan and China, was the center of large-scale corruption investigations under Kozhamzharov’s leadership. The General Prosecutor’s Office confirmed...

Cyber Security

Kazakhstan Confronts Major Data Leak in High-Stakes Security Crackdown

A detective thriller worthy of a Hollywood script is quietly playing out in the daily lives of Kazakhstani citizens, one with implications for nearly every household. At its core lies the largest leak of personal data in Kazakhstan’s history, unfolding across Almaty and Astana. The incident touches on something deeply personal: data that could be weaponized by fraudsters for illicit gain. Sixteen Million Records Exposed In early June, the Telegram channel SecuriXy.kz, known for its cybersecurity reporting, revealed a massive breach of Kazakh citizens' personal data. "A CSV file containing the personal data of Kazakh citizens, containing 16.3 million lines, has been discovered. The table contains the following fields: Last name, First name, Middle name, Gender, Date of birth, ID number, IIN [Bank Identification Number], Mobile phone number, Work phone number, Home phone number, Citizenship, Nationality, Address, Confirmed address, Start and end dates of residence," the channel stated. The analysis identified 16,302,107 records, 16.9 million unique phone numbers, and 15,851,699 unique individual identification numbers (IINs), the number of citizens whose information had been compromised. “The ‘address’ field often contains the addresses of dental clinics, polyclinics, the Tax Committee, universities, and other organizations,” the channel noted. The leak included highly sensitive personal data such as contact details and IINs, which the channel warned could be used for: “Phishing, social engineering, document forgery, and telephone fraud.” The data appears to have been compiled over a significant period. SecuriXy.kz reported that, “Most of the records were entered into the system after 2011,” with over two million added in 2022 alone. Data from 2023-2024 also appears, underscoring the leak's relevance. The revelation sparked swift reactions from officials. The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry (MCIAI) released a statement confirming an investigation in collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. “It should be noted that the initial analysis indicates that the information may have originated from private information systems. No hacker attacks or leaks of personal data from state information systems have been recorded at this time. It is premature to draw final conclusions or confirm the accuracy of the information until the investigation is complete,” the ministry stated, adding that similar past incidents often involved outdated data compiled by service sector firms or microfinance institutions. “The ministry is monitoring the situation," the authorities concluded. "Additional information will be posted after the investigation is complete.” Cybersecurity experts, however, were less dismissive. Enlik Satieva, vice president of the TSARKA Group, a cybersecurity firm affiliated with the government, stressed the seriousness of the breach. "These are not just names," she stated. "The published database contains the most important personal data of citizens. In particular, it includes surnames, first names, patronymics, gender, dates of birth, IINs, citizenship, nationality, residential addresses, registration and residence periods, as well as mobile, home, and work phone numbers." Satieva suggested that some of the data may have been sourced from medical organizations, and that the leak might stem from a specific entity or multiple sources linked through IINs. Criminal Case and Contradictions...

Corruption

Former Head of Astana Metro Project Detained in Turkey

Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (KNB) has confirmed the detention of Talgat Ardan, the former head of the Astana Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, in Turkey. Ardan, who had been placed on an international wanted list, is accused of embezzling significant budgetary funds allocated for the capital’s metro system. Legal proceedings against Ardan stem from a major corruption case that surfaced in 2020. A criminal trial launched in Astana that autumn revealed the alleged embezzlement of billions of tenge earmarked for the LRT’s construction. In May 2021, seven individuals were sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven to ten years. Two key figures, Ardan and former Astana deputy mayor Kanat Sultanbekov, were named as the scheme’s organizers and subsequently added to Interpol’s red notice list. “In September 2019, the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan submitted an extradition request to Turkey’s Ministry of Justice. Following this, Turkish authorities initiated a search. This year, the KNB confirmed Ardan’s whereabouts, and he was detained by law enforcement in Antalya,” the committee’s press service reported. On May 9, a court in Antalya approved his deportation to Kazakhstan, where he remains in custody pending extradition proceedings. An Astana court had previously found Ardan guilty in absentia under Articles 189, Part 4, and 361, Part 4 of the Criminal Code, covering the embezzlement of budget funds and abuse of office. He was sentenced to nine years in prison. Investigators reported that KZT 5.8 billion (approximately $11 million) was misappropriated during the construction of the LRT line. Ardan led the project from 2014 to 2017. The Astana LRT was originally slated for completion before the Expo 2017 exhibition but suffered repeated delays due to financial shortfalls. In 2022, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev questioned the viability of the project, pointing to its 22-kilometer route and limited utility. He suggested repurposing the already-installed infrastructure. Nevertheless, city authorities opted to continue construction. Then-Mayor Altai Kulginov argued that dismantling the partially built system would cost more than completing it. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the city’s current mayor, Zhenis Kasymbek, has pledged to open the first phase of the LRT by the end of this year.

Visa

Visa-Free Deal Under Review After Arrests of Uzbek Citizens in Dubai

The visa-free arrangement between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates could be in jeopardy because of the increase in alleged violations by Uzbek citizens in the emirates, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The leadership of the Dubai Criminal Investigation Department told Uzbek diplomats in a meeting that 15 Uzbek nationals had been detained in an incident and an investigation was underway, Akhror Burkhanov, spokesman for the Uzbek ministry, said on Telegram. Several Uzbek media outlets have reported that two groups of Uzbeks clashed in a street brawl this month and that some of them were stabbed. Some reports said one person was killed. In the meeting between Uzbek and UAE officials, it was noted “that the recent increase in violations committed by Uzbek citizens could affect the visa-free regime between the two countries,” Burkhanov said in the post on Friday. He said the foreign ministry is working with law enforcement agencies on the matter and urged Uzbek citizens “to refrain from actions that tarnish the honor of our compatriots abroad.” In March, a court in Abu Dhabi sentenced three Uzbek citizens to death after they were convicted of abducting and murdering Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi whose body was discovered in the Emirati city of Al Ain in November 2024. A fourth person convicted in the killing was sentenced to life in prison. An emissary for the ultra-Orthodox Chabad Hasidic movement in the UAE, Kogan also served as an aide to his brother-in-law, Levi Duchman, the Chief Rabbi of the UAE, who normalized ties with Israel in late 2020, a move met with skepticism in the UAE and across the wider Muslim world. Israel said the killing of Kogan was an act of terror. Some Uzbek citizens, meanwhile, have encountered problems trying to enter the United Arab Emirates. The visa-free regime between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates started early last year. Citizens can travel to each other´s countries without a visa if they don’t stay any longer than 30 days. “This measure is considered an important step towards enhancing joint cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, culture, education and other areas of common interest,” the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.