Courts, Land, and Controversy: Almaty Akim Faces Heated Questions from Medeu District Residents

Almaty Akim Yerbolat Dosayev faced a barrage of questions from residents of the Medeu district during a public meeting. While he responded to many concerns, the event ended tensely when the microphone was abruptly taken away from the final speakers. The Orda. kz report outlines what citizens wanted from the Akim.

The meeting was scheduled for 9:00 a.m., which was inconvenient for many working residents.

However, Dosayev began speaking even earlier, at 8:52 a.m., catching some attendees off guard. Journalists and residents who arrived just minutes late had to navigate bureaucratic hurdles to enter the hall. While organizers claimed there were no available seats, empty chairs were visibly scattered throughout the room.

To ask a question, attendees had to submit it in writing with their full name, address, and identification number. While waiting their turn, many realized that the queue was filled not just with concerned citizens but mostly with event organizers, likely government employees. 

Orda.kz had come with a question: how is the investigation into the death of a family of four in the Medeu district progressing, and when will it be completed?

As we wrote our question and the organizers reviewed it, a conference participant preemptively provided an answer. He stated that all necessary procedures had been carried out, and the investigation was still ongoing but would be completed soon.

We stepped out of the queue, not wanting to take time away from those with more pressing concerns.

Questions could be asked verbally or in writing, but only two per person. The time limit was one and a half minutes before the microphone was cut off. In practice, though, this rule didn’t always work — people would simply start shouting.

The meeting didn’t begin with questions but with a brief report. Dosayev reviewed key statistics and outlined the city’s main priorities for the year.

Most of the questions from Almaty residents focused on land disputes, illegal construction, and demolitions.

Many attendees challenged the legality of certain government regulations, citing legal articles. Dosayev responded by saying he wasn’t a lawyer and suggesting that those who disagreed with the authorities take their cases to court.

The first question he faced was about gas shortages. Residents complained that low pressure was leaving them freezing.

Dosayev turned to the relevant official, who confirmed that an application had been received that very day and that action would be taken. The Akim was visibly dissatisfied with their responses and demanded concrete action.

Public transportation delays also sparked debate. One resident claimed she had waited two and a half hours for a bus, a claim the Akim found hard to believe. Nevertheless, he promised to investigate.

One of the attendees urged Dosayev to act against the developer ArtMedia, citing a long-standing issue with utility connections that would require 50 million from the budget.

I won’t take responsibility for the fact that you moved in without ensuring the developer met its obligations. The only thing I can do, as was outlined last year, is to initiate urban development control, Dosayev responded. 

The discussion then shifted to demolitions, with residents raising concerns about illegal buildings.

An elderly woman spoke at length about the dangers she and her neighbors faced, expressing concerns about the nearby bars and entertainment venues.

She also linked her concerns to recent global seismic activity, warning of imminent disasters. Dosayev briefly acknowledged her concerns and promised to check the structural safety of her building. Then he wanted to move on to the next participant, but the woman raised her voice:

Twenty bars! It's unbearable! Gays are already running around in short skirts on Friday and Saturday. We call the police, but they won't respond. Our children and grandchildren see this whole picture. After all, there is supposed to be one cafe per 50 meters.

The district official assured the Akim that the police were already monitoring the area.

A key issue with environmental implications was the regulation of transport, which fails to meet ecological standards yet continues to operate freely across Almaty.

As the event wrapped up, a man dressed in traditional Kazakh attire asked why the foothills had turned into a mess and called for better protection of Almaty’s apple orchards.

If you are talking about the 127-hectare plot that the Asset Recovery Committee under the Prosecutor General's Office put up for auction, the auction has been revoked. Yesterday, I signed a letter addressed to the Prime Minister to the representative of the state commission so that they would transfer these plots to the city's balance sheet, and there will be a recreational zone there. the Akim reassured.

Just as the Akim was giving his closing remarks, tensions escalated. A crowd near the microphone demanded to be heard, pulling at the microphone and shouting questions. However, Dosayev had already concluded the session and did not respond further.

Original Author: Alexandra Mokhireva