From Ruins to Revival: What Do The Qantar-Damaged Buildings Look Like Now

Three years have passed since the January Events, also known as Qandy Qantar, that claimed the lives of 238 people. 

The epicenter of Qantar was Almaty's Republic Square, also known as New Square.

Photos of the burning Akimat and nearby buildings made headlines around the world at that time.

On the events' anniversary, Orda.kz journalists revisited these structures to see how they have transformed since then.

Akimat - Almost as It Was

The burning of the Almaty Akimat can undoubtedly be considered a symbol of Qantar. The administrative building was built in 1979.

Before it was damaged by fire, clashes took place around the building, leaving its walls riddled with bullet holes.

It was successfully restored.

The reconstruction began at the end of May 2022 and was initially scheduled to be completed within a year.

However, the process took longer. In early October 2023, most parts of the renovated Akimat building were unveiled to journalists. The final section, referred to by the Akimat as the "atrium," was completed shortly afterward.

The reconstruction, which lasted a year and a half, cost 17 billion tenge.

However, as representatives of the city authorities assured, everything was restored to its original state before Qantar—right down to the wooden railings and brass decor in the style of Qonayev architecture. 

The only external difference was the replacement of the stars on the facade with the Shanyraq symbol (the dome-shaped part of the yurt symbolizing "home," "family," — Ed.).

Just a few months after the renovated building was unveiled, the contractor, Atrix-Stroy, faced penalties for missing deadlines.

The company itself has a history of scandals. For instance, in 2024, the ground collapsed twice beneath its buildings. It is also involved in building a "mysterious" cottage town in the water protection zone.

The owner of Atrix-Stroy LLP is the Almaty maslikhat deputy Amirzhan Nabiyev.

However, the Akimat has maintained this played no role in the contractor selection process.

Business Center "Respublika" 

Many Almaty residents still don't know that the building across from the Akimat, on the corner of Satbayev and Nazarbayev Streets, is called BC Respublika.

While it was less damaged than the Akimat during Qantar, traces of the fire remained visible for several months.

Shortly after the January events, the BC Respublika building was draped in a banner, which remained on its facade for two and a half years.

Over time, the fabric that once concealed the scars of Qantar began to deteriorate. Though infrequent, the strong winds of Almaty shredded the cover, leaving it in a sorry, unkempt state. 

Now, the building looks like this:

However, the first floor is still fenced off.

The neighboring building on the corner of Satbayev and Jelktoqsan Streets also suffered during Qantar but to a lesser extent.

Today, it has been restored and covered with a mesh light screen.

Almaly Shopping Mall - A Bullet-ridden Dome

The underground shopping mall on New Square, once owned by Kairat Boranbayev, has had its fair share of struggles. Opened in 2012, it shut down for renovations in 2017, and by mid-2021, reports hinted that the long-awaited reopening was just around the corner. 

A few days later, Qantar happened, putting everything on hold once again.

During the unrest in Almaty, the above-ground part of the Almaly shopping mall was severely damaged.

The coffee shops, which formally belong to the mall, were destroyed.

One dawned the inscription "QAZAQ SILA ALASH" (Qazaq Strength Alash; Alash - a national liberation movement that opposed the colonial policies of the Russian Empire – Ed.)

And the glass dome of Alatau was damaged by bullets in several places.

What has changed three years later?

The once-destroyed coffee shops are now up and running, and no trace of the January 2022 events remains. The underground part of the mall is partially operational, although many of the boutiques are empty.

The glass dome still stands as a stark reminder of the January events, with bullet marks from three years ago still visible on it.

However, the bullet-riddled glass may soon be replaced.

In 2023, Boranbayev transferred ownership of the shopping mall to the state.

By early December 2024, it was announced that the Almaly shopping mall would be transformed into the CIS's first science museum for children. The Almaty Akimat and Science Museum Singapore have partnered to bring this vision to life.

The Presidential Residence: Gone, But Not Forgotten

The building, built from 1985 to 1995, was a full-fledged presidential residence for only two years – until 1997, when the capital was moved to Astana.

During Qantar, protesters stormed the building, drove a car inside, and set it on fire, causing an explosion. What was inside after that can be seen in the pictures.

Initially, the residence was planned to be restored, but experts eventually deemed the project impractical.

The building was demolished, and plans were made to create a park in its place, but that park is still nowhere in sight.

While schematics were revealed in the spring of 2022, city officials promised the park would be ready by the fall of 2024. However, as 2024 has passed and 2025 begins, the park remains nothing more than a promise.

Today, the area where the residence once stood looks like this:

Original Author: Igor Ulitin