Publishing House with Bomb Shelter Privatized in Almaty Returned to State Ownership

A state-owned publishing building valued at 2.6 billion tenge was illegally sold off and has now been returned to state ownership,  Orda.kz reports.

The Baspalar Uyi building in Almaty, which previously belonged to the Ministry of Culture, was privatized in 2016 for just 343 million tenge — far below its estimated value. The buyer was businessman Yerbol Nazarov.

At the time, the Ministry of Culture was headed by Arystanbek Mukhamediuly.

Soon after, both the building and company shares changed hands multiple times. The last listed owner was Mairash Myrzabekova.

Prosecutors reviewed the case and concluded the transactions were unlawful, not only due to the underpricing, but because of a 300-square-meter bomb shelter located in the building’s basement.

According to civil defense laws, such facilities are strategic infrastructure and cannot be sold or transferred into private hands.

The audit showed that part of the basement with the shelter was officially removed from Baspalar Uyi’s balance sheet back in 2004, but these restrictions were not considered in the 2015 assessment,
case materials state. 

In court, prosecutors demanded the cancellation of the auction and all subsequent transactions, calling for the building to be returned to state ownership. The defendants — including Nazarov and other buyers — argued that the sale was lawful and should stand.

However, Almaly District Court No. 2 ruled in favor of the state. Baspalar Uyi is now officially back under government control.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov