Public Activist Claimed "Talgar Mafia" Committed Land Fraud and Environmental Lawlessness

Public activist Zharkyn Kurentayev claimed Aslan Kasymbayev was involved in land fraud at a press conference in Almaty on December 2, Orda reports.

This was already the second attempt to hold a press conference on the "lawlessness in the Talgar District." 

Social activist Zharkyn Kurentayev, a founder of the Victims of Old Kazakhstan movement, said that Aslan Kasymbayev, the former head of the Talgar District Akim's office, could have been involved in land fraud.

Aslan Kasymbayev's brother Khasan was detained on suspicion of crimes committed three years ago, and his younger brother Yerzhan is serving time for homicide. 

We are no longer talking about organized crime groups, I am talking about a Talgar Mafia. Why the mafia? We have evidence that Mr. Kasymbayev, who was the head of the Talgar District Akim's office, Khasan's brother, signed orders for the distribution of land plots. And everything would be fine, but - listen! - we have gathered at least 15 facts when he gave out land with his signature to people who were not queing, said Zharkyn Kurentayev .

The activist claims he tried to contact several people given land out of turn; their phone numbers were listed in the applications. Almost all of them refused to answer questions, but these people reportedly do not live in the villages where they received the plots.

Meanwhile, thousands of families are waiting in line to receive land plots in the Almaty region.

Activists suspect that there may be signs of corruption:

When will Antikor look into Mr. Aslan Kasymbayev? The conclusion suggests itself that these are possibly front men. That is, some scheme was developed, when land is given to front men, and then it is sold. This is the Talgar Mafia, when one brother is in jail for homicide, the second brother is doing who knows what - now he is locked up for kidnapping and beating - and the third brother distributes land, bypassing the queue, Zharkyn Kurentaev said.

The activists who took part in the press conference said many Talgar District residents have been trying for years to obtain land plots of former collective farms, and each time, they are refused despite having all the title documents. 

The press conference organizers believe this is not the only possible violation by the Talgar District authorities. 

They claimed that the Almaty Region State Architectural and Construction Supervision Department (GASK) and the Department of Architecture and Urban Development of the Talgar district may have permitted illegal construction.

The activists said that officials, in violation of the law, issued an architectural planning assignment to the developer and approved the construction of a new residential complex without design and estimate documentation and an expert assessment.

But the Talgar District is a seismic risk zone. What if there is an earthquake? Do tens and hundreds of people have to die for the state bodies to start moving? The investigative bodies and the Prosecutor's Office should give a legal assessment, Zharkyn Kurentaev believes.

They also said Talgar officials are suspected of engaging in environmental violations.

Activist Galina claimed the "Talgar Mafia" still exists.

She links an attempted 2019 shooting to the activity of the alleged "Talgar Mafia."

Those who oppose land grabbing, littering, illegal quarries - they are pressured and persecuted. For example, me. From 2017 to 2019, I was assaulted, robbed, and the indifference of our valiant police, Prosecutor's Office, Anti-Corruption led to the fact that in August 2019, they simply shot at me on the threshold of the Akimat,
 said Galina Arzamasova .

The activist said she has evidence of many gross environmental violations in the Talgar district, including illegal tree felling and quarries. 

She says she still faces pressure. Whenever she tries to speak out at a public discussion, a "crowd" appears and starts shouting her down.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny

The original article in Russian published on 02/12/24 should be used for accuracy.