Farmers in Aqtobe Region Appeal to Authorities Over Asset Freezes

Farmers in the Aqtobe Region Demand Relief After Accounts and Property Frozen — Authorities Promise Review
On October 13, dozens of farmers from the Baiganinsky District in the Aqtobe Region gathered outside the regional Akimat, protesting the nine-month freeze on their bank accounts and property. Some said they had even been barred from traveling abroad.

Orda.kz investigated the reasons behind their situation.

The farmers explained that they had received loans years earlier through Qamqor LLP, a company that provides financing to rural residents using funds from the Agrarian Credit Corporation (ACC). According to them, most debts were repaid long ago, yet liens and restrictions on their assets remain.

In 2016, my farm, Zheksenbi, received six million tenge. I repaid the loan in full by 2020, but I still can’t lift the lien on my property. My apartment is still under mortgage. I don’t owe anything to Qamqor or the Agrocredit Corporation. When I ask why, they say the ‘line is closed,’
 said Kambarbay Azhigulov, a farmer from Baiganinsky District.

Only 12 borrowers still have active contracts valid until 2031, but the list of debtors also includes individuals who never took loans.

One of them, Myrzabai Babasov from the village of Miyaly, said he has no connection to Qamqor, yet had 13 million tenge withdrawn from his account.

We were unlawfully defrauded of 57 million tenge. Thirteen million were taken from me. I never participated in Qamqor, never signed anything, wasn’t even registered. This was done secretly by the company chair. There are seven other companies like mine,
 he said, demanding the return of his funds.

The farmers appealed to the Court of Cassation, which ruled in favor of those who had not received loans.

The Agrarian Credit Corporation later confirmed that the funds would be returned to those wrongly included.

Borrowers were in serious default for up to two years, so we filed for recovery through the courts. The decision has now been appealed and returned for review. After the court’s final ruling, the funds of those who did not take loans will be reimbursed,
 explained Azamat Tursynbekuly, Director of Agrarian Credit Corporation JSC.

Meanwhile, the farmers who fully repaid their debts are demanding the removal of restrictions on their accounts and property. They said the freeze prevents them from running their farms, paying employees, and buying feed, putting their livelihoods at risk.

Original Author: Elmira Erzhanova