(4 March 2026 | Source: Hronika.kz)
In the Zhetysu region, the former director of the regional branch of the Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company 'Social Health Insurance Fund' (SHIF), Ivan Samoylenko, has been detained and placed in a pre-trial detention centre. He is suspected of accepting a bribe, with the investigation being carried out by the Department of the National Security Committee (NSC) for the Zhetysu region.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION
According to Hronika.kz, Ivan Samoylenko was detained and placed in a pre-trial detention centre back at the end of 2025.
A pre-trial investigation is being conducted under Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Acceptance of a bribe"). The sanction under this article provides for a fine ranging from 50 to 60 times the amount of the bribe or imprisonment for a term of 3 to 7 years.
It may also include confiscation of property and a lifetime ban from holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities.
COMPLAINT FROM THE SPOUSE REGARDING THE INVESTIGATION'S PROGRESS
The detainee's wife, Alisa Samoylenko, who is acting as his public defender, has alleged possible violations during the investigation.
According to her, a significant portion of the pre-trial investigation audio recordings are conducted in the state language, yet her husband was allegedly not provided with translation.
She claims that because of this, the suspect did not understand the content of the conversations, and the defence had to independently bring in translators.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Zhetysu region confirmed the existence of such a circumstance and ordered the investigative body to provide the suspect and his defenders with professional translation of all pre-trial investigation materials.
VIDEO ADDRESS TO THE HEAD OF STATE
According to Alisa Samoylenko, she sent a video address to the Head of State, in which she alleged a systemic problem with oversight of investigations.
In the address, she claims that, in her opinion, the oversight is formal in nature and does not resolve the issues that arise. The woman proposed reviewing the situation using her case as an example.
WHO NOW HEADS THE SHIF BRANCH
At the time of publication, Ivan Samoylenko remains in the pre-trial detention centre. The motion to change his preventive measure to house arrest was not granted.
On the official website of the Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company 'Social Health Insurance Fund', in the 'Regions' section, information has already been published about the acting director of the branch for the Zhetysu region — Arystanbek Utegulov.