Volunteer and animal shelter director Natalia Sulzhik has published a statement regarding attempts to strip her of her land plot in the Zhambyl District of the Almaty Region. According to her, local officials and a group of "activists" are pushing for the shelter's eviction, citing alleged misuse of the land.
On her Facebook page, Sulzhik claims that she was not invited to the meeting where the land issue was discussed, and was subsequently summoned to the Akimat and informed of the decision to evict her.
"I was denied information about which specific officials from the Zhambyl District Akimat were present at the meeting concerning my case. I have a recording of the conversation, made with the Akim's consent. That is why I am posting photos of all Akimat employees. I do not know which of them were at the meeting, because I was officially refused this information. Since they are hiding it, I have no choice but to show everyone who potentially took part in deciding the fate of my land. But one thing is clear: I was deliberately not invited to the meeting," wrote the volunteer.
Sulzhik claims the plot is being used as intended: it is fenced, contains small livestock, and hay is cut annually. However, she says she regularly faces inspections.
In March 2025, according to the volunteer, her livestock was removed from the ISL (Identification of Agricultural Livestock) database without her knowledge, which provided grounds for accusing her of land misuse.
The volunteer links the pressure to interests surrounding land plots located near an international highway. In her view, the shelter's land is not subject to seizure but has become attractive for business.
"According to my information, an international highway is planned to pass near my plot. My land is not subject to seizure, but it has become gold — too valuable for some," stated Sulzhik.
She also connects the situation to the activities of a former deputy of the Amanat party. According to her, his organisation is linked to the poor-quality repair of the Knyazhevskaya Dam, where a breach occurred in 2021, flooding part of the shelter's plot. At that time, animals died, but the investigation, Sulzhik claims, was "hushed up". In May 2024, another breach nearly occurred.
"Over 500 million tenge was allocated for the dam repairs. And any proper inspection will show where the money actually went," she believes.
The volunteer also points out "double standards" at the Akimat. According to her, in the villages of Kasymbek and Mynbayevo, there are vacant plots belonging to "interesting people", yet no complaints are made against them.
"I face constant attacks and inspections. Meanwhile, a former deputy has a brick factory smoking near homes, the village has no roads, no street lighting, and unvaccinated stray dogs are running around. But according to the officials, the problem is us," states Sulzhik.
In conclusion, she said she has prepared data on officials and individuals signing complaints, and intends to hand over the recordings and correspondence to the Prosecutor's Office and the KNSC.