Kozhamzharov’s Circle: What Are Investigators Hoping to Find?

Several high-profile figures closely tied to former Prosecutor General and head of the financial police Kairat Kozhamzharov have come under investigation in connection with a growing torture case, Orda.kz reports.

Among them are former head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau Talgat Tatubayev and former investigative department chief Bauyrzhan Muzhikov.

Former head of the Special Prosecutors Service Olesya Keksel is also reportedly involved, though no official confirmation has emerged.

The Key Figures 

Talgat Tatubayev, 48, began his career in Qaraganda, where he rose through the ranks of the regional police from 1997 to 2005. From there, he transitioned to senior roles in the financial police, officially known as the Agency for Combating Economic and Corruption Crimes.

His rapid career advancement coincided with Kozhamzharov’s tenure in top positions, and Tatubayev has long been seen as one of his most trusted protégés.

Olesya Keksel is a lesser-known figure in public databases, with no biography available on Wikipedia or Zakon.kz.

However, records from Centrasia.org show she graduated with honors from the Financial Police Academy at 20 and eventually became head of the Special Prosecutors Service under the Prosecutor General.

Like Tatubayev, Keksel was trusted with major corruption cases involving high-level officials, including former PM Serik Akhmetov and Health Minister Zhaksylyk Doskaliyev.

In 2019, she was the subject of a torture complaint filed by Yerlan Nabiyev, the detained director of Energo LLP. The case was dropped for lack of evidence. At the time, Kozhamzharov, by then a senator, described her as "a very clean person" and a "high-class professional."

Bauyrzhan Muzhikov remains largely unknown to the public, but Orda.kz sources confirm he has also been detained in the current investigation. His name surfaced in a 2018 open letter by Tatyana Pak to then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev concerning Alma TV, Bank RBK, and Zhomart Yertayev. 

Another name that has surfaced is Talgat Makhatov, referred to as the finpol "wallet." According to Elmedia, Makhatov recently received his third prison sentence: 11 years for fraud, weapons possession, and threats against officials.

Kozhamzharov 

Kozhamzharov has kept a low profile. His last public appearance was in November 2023 at the funeral of Bolat Nazarbayev, brother of Kazakhstan’s first president. Other attendees included key political and business figures, but Kozhamzharov had once aspired to join the Nazarbayev family circle. 

According to reports, he was introduced to the former President through then-powerful figures like Karim Massimov and later drew support from Dariga Nazarbayeva.

Kozhamzharov has consistently avoided consequences. 

The anonymous channel Nazarbayevski Solovei (now Evraaziskiy Brifing) has made the claim that he holds compromising material on political elites, which has served as insurance. It has even labeled him "untouchable."

Kozhamzharov also reportedly studied at Leningrad State University with Dmitry Medvedev, now Deputy Chair of Russia's Security Council.

What will come of the investigation remains unclear.

Original Author: Dmitry Kim