The head of the Ministry of Finance, Madi Takiev, stated at a press conference that no money has been allocated in the budget for the Nauryz celebrations. According to him, the mass festivities are funded by sponsors and "not a single tenge will be spent from the budget".
However, according to data from press.kz, the information on the public procurement website suggests otherwise. Journalists have found at least 15 lots indicating that state institutions are financing the Nauryz celebrations.
For example, in Satpayev, the Department of Housing and Communal Services for Passenger Transport and Highways allocated 21.8 million tenge for the production and decoration of small architectural forms for the spring holiday.
The Department of Physical Culture and Sports in Shymkent allocated 13 million tenge for holding national games and decorations.
The Department of Housing and Communal Services in the city of Kurchatov, Abay region, spent 7.6 million tenge on decorating the square.