(5 February 2026 | Source: press service of the AFM RK)
The capital’s department of the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) has completed its investigation into bloggers Yerbolat Zhanabylov and Elmira Tolegenova. They are suspected of illegal business activity and money laundering of criminally obtained funds.
Under the guise of selling educational courses, they organised a scheme that effectively operated as an unlicensed lottery.
THE NATURE OF THE SUSPICIONS
According to the investigation materials, in 2025 the couple launched sales of online courses. However, as the agency claims, the main motivation for buyers was participation in prize draws for expensive items.
The combined audience of the suspects' Instagram accounts exceeds 15 million followers, which allowed them to attract a significant number of participants.
It is reported that the video materials themselves had no educational value and were largely taken from open sources, including YouTube. The courses, according to the investigation, were used as a cover for conducting a lottery without the appropriate licence.
HOW THE PRIZE FUND WAS FORMED
The AFM states that the prizes were not funded from the organisers' own money, as claimed, but from funds received from participants under the guise of payment for online courses.
The investigation also claims that changes were identified in the parameters of the electronic 'wheel of fortune': the probability of winning 5,000 tenge was artificially increased, while the chances of winning more expensive prizes were reduced.
A separate episode is noted concerning the promise of awarding an 11th car to a participant who made the highest number of reposts. According to the investigation, an actual winner was not determined, and the car was not handed over.
SUMS AND SEIZURE OF PROPERTY
According to the agency, 247.5 million tenge was received into the accounts of the controlled company Zhana Business LLP. Of this, 60 million tenge was placed in deposits.
With court approval, a seizure has been imposed on 10 cars, including a Lamborghini Urus and a Lexus LX 600, as well as 17 iPhones.
PROCEDURAL STATUS
A measure of restraint in the form of house arrest has been chosen for Yerbolat Zhanabylov and Elmira Tolegenova. They have begun familiarising themselves with the materials of the criminal case.
Other information, as clarified by the agency, is not subject to disclosure in accordance with Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.