Tokayev Calls Detention of Heads of Samruk-Kazyna and KTZh a Signal

In Kazakhstan, on November 13, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during a meeting of the Security Council, commented on the detention of the heads of the state fund Samruk-Kazyna, Nurlan Zhakupov, and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZh), Yelzhas Otynshiev. The National Security Committee reported their detention on November 11, stating that they are suspected of corruption.

Tokayev noted that the investigation has only just begun, so its details cannot yet be disclosed. He called the case the first major corruption investigation in state-owned companies following the enshrinement of the 'Law and Order' principle in the Constitution.

The President instructed the government and regulatory bodies to present proposals by November 24 to reduce corruption violations and improve the operations of quasi-state sector companies. According to him, Samruk-Kazyna manages Kazakhstan's strategic assets, collaborates with foreign companies and international financial organizations, and therefore violations within the fund pose risks to such agreements and partnerships.

Meanwhile, on social media, videos emerged showing suitcases and bags stuffed with stacks of dollars being thrown out of a window of a residential complex in central Astana. According to several Kazakhstani media outlets, this incident is linked to the detention of the fund's and KTZh's executives, though there is no official confirmation of such a connection in the original report.