Former KTZ President Zhaksybek Kulekeyev Responds to Orda.kz Article

The editorial office of Orda.kz received a letter signed by former president of Kazakhstan Temir Joly, Zhaksybek Kulekeyev, in response to our article "Kazakhstan Reclaims Key Railway Line in Aqtau from Private Ownership."

Our report covered the case of Kaskor-Transservice JSC, a company demonopolized by the state following the January Events. The company recently lost control over key railway lines in the Mangystau region, where it had independently set tariffs, creating unequal conditions in the market.

In his letter, Zhaksybek Kulekeyev denied any ownership of shares in Kaskor-Transservice JSC by him or his family.

First of all, I must state that I, Kulekeyev Zhaksybek Abdrakhmetovich, have never owned shares of the company Kaskor-Transservice. Meanwhile, in certain years, I was a member of the board of directors of this company, representing the interests of the national company KazMunayGas,
Zhaksybek Kulekeyev 

According to the former KTZ president, from the earliest days of privatization, Kaskor JSC was jointly owned by two national companies: KazMunayGas and Kazakhstan Temir Joly.

Later, the company was restructured as a joint-stock entity and officially registered in the Mangystau region. At that point, 49% of its shares were sold to employees, while the remaining shares were distributed between JSC Kaztransservice (a subsidiary of KTZ) and CJSC Trading House KazMunayGas.

The total number of shareholders owning ten or more percent of the issued shares of Kaskor-Transservice JSC is five, including the national company Kazakhstan Temir Joly— a share in the authorized capital of 13.4%, and JSC Trading House KazMunayGas — a share in the authorized capital of 12.87%.
Zhaksybek Kulekeyev 

Kulekeyev stated that since the founding of Kaskor-Transservice JSC, representatives from KazMunayGas and Kazakhstan Temir Joly had always been part of its board of directors. In 2014, he joined the board as a top manager of KazMunayGas.

After the sale of the share of JSC NC KazMunayGas, my membership in the board of directors was revoked. In recent years, I have not participated in the activities of the board of directors of Kaskor-Transservice JSC. But I am aware that last year, by decision of the authorized body, the access roads of Kaskor-Transservice JSC were recognized as main roads and returned to state ownership.
Zhaksybek Kulekeyev, in his response to Orda.kz 

Additionally, Kulekeyev addressed his past conviction. He stated that in 2021, the Nur-Sultan (now Astana) court fully acquitted him.

Kulekeyev was accused of corruption in 2008, with investigators alleging that he had abused his official powers during a public procurement tender.

The charges claimed that he had used company funds to purchase a Lexus at an inflated price, which his family then used. As a result, he was sentenced to three years in prison. However, after serving a year and a half, he was released on parole.

Later, his conviction was overturned, and he was acquitted.

Original Author: Dinara Bekbolayeva