Former Financial Police Officials Reportedly Detained, Case Concerns Torture

Former high-ranking officers of Kazakhstan’s financial police have been detained, including Talgat Tatubayev — an associate of ex-Prosecutor General Kairat Kozhamzharov — and the former head of the financial police’s investigative department, Orda.kz's sources have confirmed this.

The case is being investigated under the criminal article related to torture. According to Elmedia, former and current law enforcement, including prosecutor office employees, are allegedly working to shield Tatubayev.

Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office later confirmed the detention. According to official information, Tatubayev was taken into custody on July 3 and is suspected of involvement in torture.

We inform you that on July 3, 2025, by order of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, former head of the National Bureau for Anti-Corruption Tatubayev T. M. was detained on suspicion of committing a crime under Article 146, Part 2, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code (torture). Other details of the pre-trial investigation are not subject to disclosure in accordance with Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code,”
 the agency stated.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, with investigators continuing to collect additional evidence.

Originally from Qaraganda, Tatubayev began his career as an investigator in the regional internal affairs bodies.

He rose rapidly through the ranks of the financial police and anti-corruption agencies, holding senior positions. From 2018 to 2019, shortly before the January 2022 unrest, he led the criminal prosecution service of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Between 2020 and 2022, he served as an adviser to the Minister of Justice.

Tatubayev is widely viewed as a protégé of Kairat Kozhamzharov, the former head of the financial police, Anticorruption Service, and Prosecutor General’s Office. Throughout his career, Tatubayev held senior roles under Kozhamzharov’s leadership and was considered part of his inner circle.

Three years ago, former prosecutor Viktor Tikhonov — previously convicted of abuse of power and unlawful dismissal of a criminal case — was fully acquitted. Initially sentenced to three years in prison in 2018, he was cleared by the Supreme Court five years later.

Notably, the investigation into Tikhonov was carried out by agencies then led by Kozhamzharov and his closest allies, including Tatubayev and Olesya Keksel.

Original Author: Correspondent