KNB Chief Reports to President Toqayev

Since the beginning of 2025, Kazakhstan has denied entry to 1,498 foreign radicals and imposed restrictions on 212 individuals linked to terrorism and extremism, National Security Committee (KNB) Chair Yermek Sagimbayev reported to President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev on May 23, Orda.kz reports.

According to Aqorda, Sagimbayev outlined the KNB’s activities from January to May 2025. He noted that 43 people had been convicted in Kazakhstan for terrorism and religious extremism, while pre-trial investigations are underway against 34 others. Additionally, 12 foreign nationals wanted for extremism-related crimes were detained in the country.

Among other key results, the KNB detained 142 members of 13 criminal groups, seized 282 firearms, 48 grenades, and more than 4,500 rounds of ammunition, dismantled 12 drug laboratories, and confiscated over 3.2 tons of narcotics.

Corrupt and other illegal activities of 15 officials of state and law enforcement agencies were stopped. Damage to the state budget in the amount of 1.6 trillion tenge was prevented, 220 billion of which were reimbursed to the state budget,
Sagimbayev reported. 

He also noted that more than 3,000 lawbreakers had been expelled from Kazakhstan since the beginning of the year, and over 600 attempts to smuggle weapons, ammunition, and drugs were thwarted. In addition, 796 million cyberattacks targeting government information systems were repelled.

Following the report, President Toqayev gave Sagimbayev further instructions for ongoing national security efforts.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny