Approximately 2.3 billion tenge worth of assets seized from wanted allegedly corrupt individuals
A Kazakhstan Anti-Corruption Crackdown
In the streets of Almaty, the wind of change is blowing, as an international fugitive's ill-gotten gains are snatched away by the relentless grasp of the law. According to Vechernyaya Astana, evidence of the man's money laundering activities has been discovered, leading to the seizure of his assets since 2022.
Over 1.5 billion tenge, embezzled from shady dealings, were used to purchase luxury automobiles, real estate, land plots, and residential buildings in the Almaty and Almaty region. Some of the properties were subtly shifted into his spouse's name.
Bank accounts connected to the corrupt official and his better half, in second-tier banks, revealed deposits totaling 919.4 million tenge—money laundered through criminal activities and eclipsing their official incomes.
On June 16, 2025, the court ordered the confiscation of these funds and properties in favor of the state.
This move is a compelling demonstration of Kazakhstan's increasing vigilance against illegal financial activities, including those connected to cryptocurrency. The country has tightened its grip on the crypto sphere, shutting down 36 unregulated crypto exchanges and seizing around 4,000 mining devices since 2024 as part of its crackdown on unlicensed and potentially illicit cryptocurrency operations. These initiatives are part of a broader drive to uphold anti-money laundering (AML) laws and tax regulations, overseen by authorities such as the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Financial Monitoring Agency.
In the legal and political arena, there has been a pronounced push for extended confiscation laws, which enable authorities to seize assets from not just criminals but also third parties possessing them. This development is crucial in combating money laundering by expanding the scope of seizure powers. On May 19, 2025, a significant proposal was made by Majilisman S. Bashimov to the Prosecutor General, advocating for the introduction of such extended confiscation measures, highlighting the government's intention to increase legal weapons against money laundering and related financial offenses.
Although specific details about the Kazakh national involved in the international money laundering case in Almaty were not explicit in the available sources, the government's actions indicate a robust system in place to seize illicit assets related to such cases, including extended confiscation powers and tightened crypto regulations frequently exploited in money laundering schemes.
In essence:
- Kazakhstan has intensified its efforts to confiscate assets from unregulated cryptocurrency mining and exchange operations, seizing thousands of mining devices since 2024.
- Legal reforms are underway to enable extended confiscation powers, allowing authorities to seize assets linked to money laundering even from third parties, reinforcing asset recovery frameworks.
- These measures are part of a broader governmental strategy to suppress money laundering and financial crimes, such as international cases involving Kazakh nationals.
Though no public update on the confiscation status of assets in the specific case of the Kazakh national in Almaty was found, the current atmosphere strongly suggests ongoing or imminent asset seizures as part of the law enforcement community's concerted efforts against money laundering.
In the realm of general-news, Kazakhstan's crackdown on money laundering and unlicensed cryptocurrency operations has escalated, with the confiscation of thousands of mining devices since 2024, signaling a stronger stance in the finance industry. Moreover, legal reforms are being proposed to expand asset recovery frameworks, allowing authorities to seize ill-gotten funds and properties not only from criminals but also from third parties, as demonstrated in the ongoing confrontation with money launderers in industry circles.
