Against the backdrop of complaints from the construction company «RAMS» about journalists from the publication «Ak Zhaik», prompted by comments from Majilis deputy Yerlan Sairov, the FBKR editorial team recalled that the issue of development on the territory of the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU) had been raised a year ago.
In April 2023, like many media outlets, we reported that after the transfer of the university's land plots into the ownership of private individuals, construction of the «Ocean» residential complex began on the site. The developer was the company «RAMS», which later removed the project information sign from the site. Information about the future residential complex soon disappeared from all public sources, and the construction company distanced itself from the project.
Even back then, «RAMS» stated that the land plot did not belong to them. It is worth noting that neither then nor now has the construction company been disingenuous about this – legally, «RAMS» has no connection to the KazNARU land plot. Nevertheless, the FBKR editorial team established a familial link between one of the plot's owners and the owner of the construction company.
It is known that the land plot on which the university's main buildings are located has an area of 11.5 hectares and is under shared ownership. The territory of the plot is divided among the owners into shares, each with its own designated purpose. Since June 2017, KazNARU's share has been 9.3 hectares with the designated purpose «for the operation and maintenance of the educational complex of buildings and dormitories».
Another 0.8 hectares with the designated purpose «for a multifunctional residential complex» belongs to «Irida Invest» LLP. As reported by the media, according to an extract from the Urban Planning Control Department (GASK), it was «Irida Invest» that acted as the customer for the «Ocean» residential complex. The company «RAMS» was merely the contractor. However, we found that the founder of «Irida Invest» LLP is Dinara Baimbetova, daughter of one of the owners of «RAMS», Almat Baimbetov.
The remaining area of the land plot was designated for garages and, over the years, was registered under «University of International Business» LLP and then under individuals. It was previously reported that the garages are owned by people living nearby. But for unclear reasons, they are located on the university's original territory. Paradoxically, the overall designated purpose of the 11.5-hectare land plot is «for the operation and maintenance of garage No. 26».
As early as April last year, the management of KazNARU announced its intention to reclaim the lands that had been alienated from the university. It was reported that the Anti-Corruption Agency and the city prosecutor's office were aware of the fact that the university's territory had been transferred to private individuals. It is believed that the construction of the residential complex was approved during the period when Bauyrzhan Baibek served as the city's mayor.
The university rector at the time was Tlekhtes Espolov, the father of the civil wife of the first president Nursultan Nazarbayev, Asel Kurmanbayeva (Isabayeva). Journalists wrote that it was Espolov who led the negotiations regarding construction on the university's territory. Notably, in June 2023, KazNARU did raise the issue of returning the university's previously privatised facilities and lands. A list of the divested assets was published on the university's website. However, the publication subsequently became inactive.