Fugitive Ex-Astana LRT Head Talgat Ardan Detained in Türkiye, Extradition Underway

Former head of Astana LRT LLP, Talgat Ardan — who had been on the international wanted list for six years — was detained in Antalya, Türkiye, and will soon be extradited to Kazakhstan, Orda.kz reports.

According to the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, the Prosecutor General’s Office sent an official extradition request to the Turkish Ministry of Justice in September 2019. The request concerned a criminal case involving the embezzlement of funds during the construction of the light rail transit (LRT) system in Astana.

In 2025, the exact location was established. As a result of operational activities carried out by Turkish law enforcement agencies, Ardan was detained in the city of Antalya, the committee said in a statement.

On May 9, a court in Antalya ruled to deport Ardan to Kazakhstan. He remains in custody pending his return. Kazakh authorities have now begun formal extradition procedures.

Previously, a court in the capital found Ardan guilty in absentia of embezzlement on a particularly large scale and abuse of authority. He was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Also wanted in the same case is Kanat Sultanbekov, who formerly held positions as Deputy Akim of Astana and Deputy Chair of the Board of JSC NC Kazakhstan Engineering. In 2019, he was placed on the international wanted list for his alleged involvement in the LRT construction embezzlement scheme.

Sultanbekov is believed to be residing in the United States. He was sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison in May 2023. Authorities continue to pursue his extradition.

Media reports indicate that Sultanbekov’s family lives in New York, where his wife is active on social media, sharing posts about life in the U.S. Despite ongoing efforts, Sultanbekov remains abroad.

The long-delayed Astana LRT project now appears to be nearing completion, according to the city’s Akim. 

Once an ambitious initiative championed by Kazakhstan’s first President, the project has become a symbol of corruption and mismanagement.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov