University Land Lost to Private Development

One of Almaty’s oldest institutions, the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNAU), has lost dormitories, laboratories, and several hectares of land in the city center.

These assets, once public, have quietly passed into private hands. A residential complex is now under construction on former university grounds. As Orda.kz reports, the property transfer may be linked to someone connected to the family of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Faculty, students, and activists recently held a public meeting to voice their concerns.

According to participants, many assumed that the vacant lot would be used to build new student housing or academic facilities.

The land is now the site of a high-rise residential complex being built by the company RAMS.

Previously, this entire territory belonged to the university. On one side, it is bordered by Nazarbayev Street, on the others by Abay, Ualikhanov and Satpayev. Now, a residential complex of LLP 'RAMS' is being built here. If they were building a student dormitory here, we would understand. But they are building apartments here,
a KazNAU instructor explained. 

In total, three dormitories, five laboratory buildings, and approximately six hectares of land were transferred for development — all formerly university property.

"A Potential Man-made Disaster"

That is how Majilis deputy Erlan Sairov described the situation during his meeting with university staff. He believes the only way to restore the land to the university is to have the original transfer declared unlawful.

The anti-corruption agency is currently handling this case. We cannot interfere. The illegal actions committed during the previous government are now threatening the safety of students. This is a potential man-made disaster in the very center of Almaty. I am making an official appeal to the Prosecutor General. If the concept of the rule of law proposed by President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev is really to be implemented, then such lawlessness must be stopped. In addition, neither the Prime Minister nor the Committee on Industry and Construction have made any decisions yet,
 Sairov said.

Officials echoed the need for a proper inspection. Daniyar Kyrykbayev, head of the city's construction control department, commented:

Before the construction committee arrives and starts the inspection, this place must be closed immediately. The main title documents must be returned to the university. Until the documents are returned, the university will not be able to manage this territory.

Deputy Akim of Almaty Beibit Shakhanov added that no final decision has yet been made:

According to university representatives, the privatization process began in 2006, under then-rector Tlektes Yespolov. Years later, during Bauyrzhan Baibek’s tenure as Akim, plans were made to allow housing development on the university’s land.

Yespolov supposedly played a key role in those negotiations.

Yegemberdi Dairbekuly, a professor at the university’s law department, noted that:

Tlektes Yespolov is a well-known figure in Kazakhstani education, having led KazNAU for over two decades. He was often referred to as the "unsinkable rector."

Media reports identify Yespolov as the father of Asel Kurmanbayeva (Isabayeva), said to have been in a relationship with the former President Nursultan Nazarbayev. His younger son, Bektenbay, held the position of district akim in Almaty (2020–2021) and later worked briefly as a top manager at Samruq-Qazyna. 

The family largely disappeared from the public spotlight following the January 2022 unrest.

What's Being Done?

A criminal investigation into the loss of university property is now underway. Of the eight buildings transferred into private ownership, only one has so far been returned. The rest remain under investigation.

As student Nurislam Nurboluly explained, part of dormitory No. 9 is currently being used for commercial purposes:

I live in this hostel. We don't even know who owns this company. Customers park their cars right at the entrance to the hostel, come in and out. This causes us serious inconvenience. 

For now, the outcome depends on decisions by the Almaty Akimat and the courts. Until then, construction on the former university grounds continues.

Original Author: Islam Aden