investigation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Corruption

Belgium Transfers $108 Million in Seized Assets to State Treasury Following Uzbek Corruption Probe

On March 28, 2025, the Brussels Public Prosecutor instructed Belgium’s Central Office for Seizure and Confiscation (COSC) to transfer $108 million in confiscated assets to the Belgian state treasury. The funds, now officially the property of the Belgian government, were seized in connection with an international corruption investigation linked to Uzbekistan. The case stems from a years-long probe into illicit payments and bribes tied to telecom contracts in Uzbekistan. The funds were allegedly laundered and routed through various jurisdictions before being frozen in Belgium at the request of Uzbek authorities. The investigation, based on international legal cooperation and the UN Convention Against Corruption, initially led to the freezing of approximately $200 million. A Dutch-language court in Brussels later ruled that the full amount, including accrued interest, should be permanently confiscated. The court also ordered the funds to be split between Belgium and Uzbekistan, applying a restitution model similar to those used among European Union member states. As a result, another $108 million is expected to be transferred to Uzbekistan in the near future. In 2022, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Justice Muzraf Ikramov publicly stated that assets worth $240 million, linked to a criminal group associated with Gulnara Karimova, had been located in Belgium. He noted that cooperation between Uzbek and Belgian law enforcement agencies had been established to facilitate their return. When contacted by Kun.uz for comment, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice said that details of the investigation remain classified. “Since the investigation process in Belgium is not over, and due to the confidentiality rules, it is not possible to disclose much information about these assets,” a ministry official said.

investigation

Kazakhstan Investigates Recipients of USAID Funding

Following the cancellation of USAID funding, the Kazakhstani government and parliament are scrutinizing the recipients of U.S. financial assistance. The issue has sparked significant public debate and online discussions. Deputies Demand Explanations On March 10, the U.S. administration announced the cancellation of 83% of USAID programs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated: “After a six-week review, we are officially canceling 83% of USAID programs. The 5,200 contracts now canceled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve (and in some cases even harmed) the core national interests of the United States.” Earlier, on March 5, deputies from the People's Party of Kazakhstan (PPK) formally requested that the Minister of National Economy and the Minister of Justice conduct an audit of foreign funding for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Lawmakers called for transparency regarding project financing, allocated amounts, and fund usage. According to the deputies, some USAID-funded programs contradicted traditional Kazakhstani values, particularly those related to LGBT rights and feminist movements. Reports indicate that members of the parliamentary majority faction, Amanat, also supported the request. Government Investigation Underway The government's position remained unclear until March 12, when Respublika newspaper reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Jumangarin had responded to the Mazhilis on behalf of the Cabinet of Ministers. Respublika is associated with Mukhtar Ablyazov, a fugitive oligarch sentenced in absentia to a lengthy prison term in Kazakhstan. According to the report, 28 long-term USAID programs were active in Kazakhstan under bilateral agreements in 2024. In total, USAID allocated $26.5 million for projects implemented in the country between 2023 and 2024. These initiatives covered sectors such as the economy, energy, healthcare, civil society, and media. Some projects extended beyond Kazakhstan, impacting other Central Asian nations. Among the NGOs operating under USAID programs in 2024-2025 were: Public Foundation "Desenta" NGO "Kadyr-Kasiyet" Representative Office of Eurasia Foundation in Kazakhstan Representative Office of Winrock International Representative Office of Internews Network Representative Office of the American Bar Association Additionally, several government agencies collaborated with USAID. Jumangarin noted that, under Kazakhstani law, recipients of foreign funding must publish annual reports on how the funds are used. He assured deputies that the verification of USAID-funded projects would continue under a working group established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Murat Nurtleu. Funding Details Emerge Further details surfaced on March 14, with reports indicating that USAID had canceled contracts in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Two contracts in Kazakhstan were reportedly worth $2.35 million and $3.35 million. These funds were designated for the projects “Strengthening Civic Participation in Kazakhstan” and “Strengthening Human Rights and Equality.” The latter aimed to support LGBT organizations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in advocating for human rights. This information was cited from an official USAID document. Additional media reports revealed a list of USAID grantees in 2024, including: ArtKoshe PF The YouTube channel "Hyperborey" Oksana Gabitova (Akulova) Vlast Media Group LLP DEPPA podcast Täuelhsız project Tasadagy Omir project Aftertutor IP, an online magazine focused on...

Rare Earth Metals

Kazakhstan: Calls for Investigation into Rare Earth Metals Exports

Azat Peruashev, head of the Ak Zhol parliamentary faction, has urged authorities to investigate subsoil users over alleged uncontrolled exports of rare earth metals. Parliamentary Inquiry Peruashev outlined his concerns in a parliamentary request addressed to Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Service chief Askhat Zhumagali and Minister of Industry Ersaiyn Nagaspayev. "Social media posts by former Kazakhmys laboratory assistant Bakyt Adilova allege that the corporation exports ore and copper concentrate without conducting chemical analysis, concealing the presence of valuable and rare earth metals. She claims the company artificially devalues exported resources, harming the national economy to benefit oligarchs," Peruashev stated. He also cited an interview with geologist Bakyt Muratov on Elmedia, in which the expert criticized the absence of laboratory analysis in ore and concentrate exports. Muratov noted that for decades, major mining companies have shipped raw materials abroad for processing, leaving Kazakhstan unaware of the true value of its exports. "We still do not know exactly what we are selling. Complex ores are being exported without proper analysis. No one knows the vast sums of money that have left the country and returned as finished products," Muratov said. The Ak Zhol parliamentary faction is demanding official confirmation or denial of these claims. Lawmakers insist that authorities either prosecute those spreading false information or launch an anti-corruption investigation. Additionally, the party is calling for tighter government oversight of mineral exports. "Kazakhstan holds significant reserves of rare earth metals, including lanthanum, cerium, and yttrium, strategic elements crucial for high-tech industries. Rare earth metals are emerging as the 'new oil' in the global economy, with their availability increasingly influencing global power dynamics. Experts estimate that demand for some of these metals could grow up to 40-fold in the coming years," Peruashev concluded. Response from Kazakhmys In response, Kazakhmys Corporation stated that it does not engage in targeted mining of rare earth metals. However, the company acknowledged that small amounts of rare metals are recovered during acid washing processes. The corporation explained that production waste is processed at Zhezkazganredmet, a state-owned enterprise specializing in the separation and refining of rare metals. Waste from precious metal production is handled by Kazakhmys Progress LLP, which is responsible for refining. “All company operations are strictly regulated by the relevant authorities. We fully support stronger state oversight of mineral exports and are open to dialogue with government agencies. Allegations of concealing rare earth metals or artificially lowering the value of exported raw materials are baseless and do not reflect reality,” Kazakhmys said in a statement. Kazakhmys and the Broader Rare Earth Metals Landscape Kazakhmys was established as a joint stock company in August 1997 and re-registered as a limited liability partnership in January 2005. The company specializes in mining and processing copper ore into cathodes and rods, refining and selling precious metals, and managing by-products from copper production. Kazakhmys ranks as the world’s 20th largest producer of copper in concentrate (271 ktpa) and 12th largest producer of blister and cathode copper (377 ktpa and 365 ktpa, respectively). Its operations include...

investigation

Fake Nephew of Sadyr Japarov Detained in Kyrgyzstan

A man posing as an adviser and relative of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has been detained for attempting to seize a coal deposit worth approximately 50 million KGS ($572,000), the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) reported. According to security officials, the suspect falsely claimed to be a presidential adviser and Japarov’s "jeen" (nephew). He allegedly demanded that the mine be transferred to a foreign company, threatening the owner with arrest and citing supposed connections within law enforcement. He also claimed to have personal ties to the country’s leadership, using this assertion to pressure his target. The SCNS launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a citizen who reported that an individual, along with an accomplice, was attempting to take over a coal deposit by exploiting the president’s name. Authorities confirmed that the suspects had no actual connection to Japarov or his family. Both individuals were arrested and placed in the SCNS pre-trial detention center. Investigators are now looking into the potential involvement of additional accomplices and are examining whether the detainees have committed similar crimes. This is not the first case of someone misusing presidential ties for personal gain. In the summer of 2024, media reports surfaced about the arrest of Ulan Japarov, an actual nephew of the president. According to reports, he allegedly accepted more than $100,000 in exchange for promising to secure an appointment as a presidential plenipotentiary representative in one of Kyrgyzstan’s regions. However, when he failed to deliver on his promise, he was arrested by the SCNS. He was later released under house arrest.

Crime

New Arrests Made in Moscow Over Russian General’s Killing

Batukhan Tochiyev and Ramazan Padiyev have been detained in connection with the assassination of Russian General Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense (RCBD) Forces. According to a report by RIA Novosti, the arrests were announced by Svetlana Petrenko, the official representative of the Investigative Committee. “Based on the collected evidence, Tochiyev and Padiyev have been charged with carrying out a terrorist act as part of an organized group under Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code. The court has been petitioned to place them under detention,” Petrenko said. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSS) had arrested another suspect, Akhmadzhon Kurbonov, a 1995-born Uzbek citizen. According to the investigation, Tochiyev and Padiyev rented a hostel room in the Moscow region for Kurbonov, who is alleged to have carried out the attack. Kurbonov was apprehended while attempting to flee after the bombing. Petrenko added that the authorities are continuing their investigation in collaboration with the FSS and Ministry of Internal Affairs to identify the individuals responsible for planning and organizing the attack. The suspects are believed to have operated under the guidance of a still-unknown curator. The Basmanny Court of Moscow has ordered the detention of Tochiyev and Padiyev until February 17. General Igor Kirillov and his assistant, Major Ilya Polikarpov, were killed on December 17 at approximately 6:00 a.m. when a bomb concealed in a scooter exploded near the entrance of a residential building on Ryazansky Prospekt as they exited the building. Kurbonov was detained the following day. According to investigators, he claimed he'd been acting on the orders of Ukrainian special services and that he was promised $100,000 and relocation to a European Union country in exchange for carrying out the attack. Authorities are now focused on uncovering the broader network behind the plot, which they believe was orchestrated as part of a larger plan by external forces.

Cyber Security

Cyber Déjà Vu: Is Russia Spying on Kazakhstan Again?

Another espionage scandal is gaining traction in the Western media, with Kazakhstan once again at its center. Within Kazakhstan, however, the topic of Russian cyber activities against the country is receiving minimal attention in the press. While Akorda seeks to navigate its delicate relationship with the Kremlin, any overt allegations of espionage might provoke Moscow’s powerful propaganda machine, which continues to exert significant influence over public opinion in Kazakhstan. This time, the intrigue is unfolding in cyberspace, where a hacker group identified as UAC-0063, potentially linked to the Kremlin-backed Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group known as APT28, has been implicated in spying on diplomatic institutions across Central Asia. The group’s activities, which can be traced back to at least 2021, have targeted not only Kazakhstan, but also Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and other countries. Their previous targets include diplomatic, non-profit, academic, energy, and defense organizations in Ukraine, Israel, India, and the wider Central Asian region. According to a cyber espionage investigation by Sekoia, UAC-0063 hackers infiltrated Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs by leveraging official documents, such as emails, draft memos, and internal administrative communications. These documents — likely used to deliver malware — were either stolen in prior cyber operations, obtained from open sources, or acquired through other unknown means. Sekoia identified around two dozen such documents, dating from 2021 to October 2024, which primarily addressed Kazakhstan’s diplomatic cooperation and economic relations with other countries. The researchers suggest this campaign is part of a broader, Kremlin-backed global cyber espionage operation targeting Central Asia, with a particular focus on Kazakhstan's foreign relations. This latest revelation is a reminder of other episodes. One prominent ongoing case involves individuals in London who stand accused of preparing actions at the behest of Russia against Kazakhstan's diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom and targeting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s son. Even more striking is the echo of the Pegasus spyware scandal, which emerged in 2021. An investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) revealed that the Israeli-developed Pegasus spyware was used to monitor a wide range of individuals in Kazakhstan, including independent journalists, activists, human rights defenders, and high-ranking officials. Among the targets were President Tokayev, then-Prime Minister Askar Mamin, former Akim of Almaty Bakytzhan Sagintayev, and several of Kazakhstan’s wealthiest business-people. At the time, public suspicion fell upon Karim Massimov, the former chief of the National Security Committee (KNB), as the perpetrator of the Pegasus surveillance. However, the issue faded into obscurity following the unrest of January 2022, the events of which were officially described as an attempted coup d’état. To this day, no definitive answers have been provided about who orchestrated the Pegasus cyberattacks or their motives. Now, with fresh reports of Russian-linked malware targeting Kazakhstan’s cyber-security, it appears that history may be repeating itself. The key question which remains - is this merely a case of déjà vu, or could it signal the groundwork for a new effort to destabilize Kazakhstan?