From Corruption to Classrooms: What Happened to Kairat Satybaldyuly’s Seized Assets

Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Agency is showcasing how assets confiscated from convicted officials can be repurposed for public benefit.

One example is the case of Kairat Satybaldyulyuly — a prominent businessman and relative of the former president — whose properties and funds are now being used to build schools, camps, and rehabilitation centers.

As part of a recent press tour, journalists were shown newly built gymnasiums in Astana, funded by money reclaimed from corruption cases. These “Comfortable Schools” follow the same standards regardless of their funding sources.

Officials emphasized that construction has been closely monitored.

All authorized bodies are working on their part. In turn, the anti-corruption service is monitoring the confiscated property so that no illegal actions are committed with it. So far, no pre-trial investigations have been registered,
noted Senior Investigator of the Department of Financial Investigations, Search and Return of Assets Maksat Imangazin.

When asked if buildings funded with seized assets should bear plaques naming their previous owners, smiling, he responded:

The bill on maintaining a register of corrupt officials is currently under consideration. This is probably more of a question for our lawmakers. If the deputies come up with such an initiative and support it, then the corresponding bill will be adopted. Whatever one may say, private life in our country is inviolable, even those convicted have the right to a private life. 

By 2025, 61 such schools are expected to open across the country, with another 25 planned this year.

One of the more striking transformations is Satybaldyulyuly’s former mansion in central Astana.

Once a luxury residence, it’s now a psychological and pedagogical center for children. Jewelry, furniture, and other valuables found in the property have either been sold or are being prepared for sale.

There are several exclusive pieces of jewelry that we, unfortunately, cannot show or name... most of it has already been sold,
said Daniyar Bigaydarov, spokesperson for the Anti-Corruption Service.

The house was renovated and now includes a stage, playgrounds, and therapy rooms. Other structures on the property are being used as support facilities for children’s services.

In another example, a luxury retreat formerly owned by the Satybaldyulyuly family — now run by Astana’s akimat — has been converted into a free summer camp for children from low-income families.

It can accommodate 1,400 children per session, serving over 7,000 annually. Plans are in place to operate year-round.

The camp briefly hosted a small zoo, but the animals were removed after a legal dispute with local authorities.

We won the case. But the animals almost disappeared - or maybe they did. We specially raised them, fed them, watered them. For children, this was simply unique! Even the court sided with us. Then the forestry department called and suggested that we take the animals back, but I said let them take care of them themselves - it was their direct responsibility. I think the animals were then sent to the Qaraganda Zoo. There were yaks, deer, marals - and the marals were tame,
 said Vadim Motorin, director of the M. Utemisov Schoolchildren’s Palace.

As of 2022, over 1.1 trillion tenge worth of assets have been returned to state ownership.

The government says these funds are reinvested into education and public services, making formerly ill-gotten wealth part of Kazakhstan’s infrastructure development.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov