Prosecutors Launch Probe Into Alleged Land Fraud in Almaty Region

Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office has launched an investigation into suspected large-scale land fraud in the Qarasay district administration of Almaty Region, Orda.kz reports.

The probe follows a June 25, 2025, parliamentary address by Majilis deputy Bakytzhan Bazarbek, who alleged that agricultural land had been illegally divided using forged signatures and seals of local officials.

Among the documents in question are those bearing the names of the Deputy Akim and the head of the land relations department.

In the village of Kemertogan alone, two land plots were illegally split into 83. Across Qarasay district, there are hundreds of similar cases. We’re also seeing the same thing in Ili and Talgar districts,
 Bazarbek wrote on Facebook.

Under Article 110 of Kazakhstan’s Land Code, subdividing agricultural land near urban areas is explicitly prohibited.

Though a criminal case had previously been opened, there were concerns it might be quietly dropped. The Prosecutor General’s Office is now tasked with identifying and prosecuting the officials involved. Bazarbek is calling for all related land title documents to be revoked and for restrictions to be imposed on the disputed plots.

Earlier, the same deputy urged prosecutors to take control of several land disputes in Almaty, including the alleged unlawful transfer of 30 hectares of protected land to entities linked to oligarch Timur Kulibayev.

At the time, Bazarbek accused “Old Kazakhstan” elites of defying court rulings and blocking efforts to return state-owned land.

Separately, Orda.kz previously reported on another questionable land transfer involving property once owned by Almaty’s orphanage No. 1 in the village of Kuramys.

According to exclusive information, that land was removed from the orphanage’s ownership and split among eight private individuals.

Orda.kz has sent official inquiries but had not received responses by the time of publication.
 
Original Author: Ruslan Loginov