How a Cultural Monument Ended Up in the Hands of Nazarbayev's Ex-Assistant

The Qaraganda Region Specialized Interdistrict Economic Court has revoked the transactions to sell the Lenin Cinema, a significant historical and cultural monument of the city. As a result, it was decided to return the building to the state. Orda.kz has looked into the matter.

The Cinema's history goes back decades. In 1998, it was included in the register of historical and cultural monuments of Qaraganda. However, a year later, in October 1999, the building was excluded from this list by the decision of the then-Akim of the city, Mazhit Yesenbayev. It was immediately sold to a private company.

Yesenbayev then became Minister of Finance. Under the former President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Yesenbayev held high positions in government structures: Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry. He also headed the Agency for the Protection of Competition and the Customs Control Committee. 

Several months ago, Qaraganda activist Bakhtiyar Omarkhanov revealed details about the Lenin Cinema.

How did such a facility end up in private hands? After all, according to the law 'On the protection and use of historical and cultural heritage sites,' monuments are the exclusive property of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In this case, Aigerim Daribayeva helped clarify the situation by contacting the Prosecutor's Office of the Kazbek Bi district of Qaraganda, where she was told that, it turns out, prosecutors filed a lawsuit in court, and very serious proceedings are currently underway,Omarkhanov wrote.

He says the first owner was LLP "Kausar." The company bought the property for 1.2 million tenge. The LLP also committed to paying off accounts payable of 1.7 million tenge and investing 290 million tenge.

In 2001, the Cinema was restored to its former status, but the ownership changes did not stop. Kausar LLP sold the facility to the Kazakhstan Investment Company and, 19 years later, to Avangard LTD LLP.

All the companies mentioned above are affiliated with Yesenbaev's relatives. His brother and nephew, Malik and Askar, were listed as stakeholders (founders).

In 2024, the Qaraganda Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation into the legality of the first transaction, revealing numerous violations. This became the basis for a lawsuit, which was satisfied.

The Cinema is now again under state protection.

Original Author: Aliya Askarova