Head of the LLP "Kazakh Tulpar" Sholpan Murzagulova has spoken openly for the first time about threats made against her. According to Sholpan, the head of the Farm "Barys" Askhat Tuleuov conveyed threats of physical violence to her through third parties, and the director of the asset management department of NANOC Sabyrzhan Kalmukhambetov contacted the police with a statement about an unconfirmed case of missing horses and is actively pushing for her dismissal.
WHAT HAPPENED
Earlier, FBRK reported that the herd of the unique Kostanay breed at the LLP "Kazakh Tulpar" (the only official farm engaged in its breeding) currently numbers fewer than 100 head, and the sole investor, Farm "Barys", refused to keep the horses and without warning demanded they take the herd back.
According to Murzagulova, until roughly 2022 the LLP was funded by JSC "National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Centre" (NANOC), of which the enterprise is a part. Then they had to seek investors under a "joint activity" scheme, and in March 2026, Farm "Barys" arrived.
WHAT LIES BEHIND THE STATEMENT ABOUT THE MISSING HORSES
As the head of the enterprise recounted, the day after Farm "Barys" demanded they take the horses from the summer milking, effectively leaving them without water, feed, or a herdsman, the Director of the Asset Management Department of NANOC, Sabyrzhan Kalmukhambetov, arrived at the enterprise. Upon learning that the herd was out at pasture, he contacted the police with a statement about the horses being missing. However, after a count, all the animals were found to be present.
Murzagulova also believes that Kalmukhambetov's actions indicate he is lobbying for the interests of Farm "Barys". According to her, during their conversations he suggested she "keep quiet" and not take the conflict into the public domain, while simultaneously initiating inspections and requests that restrict her travel to the sites, and, using administrative resources, is allegedly pushing for her dismissal.
Similar threats came from the head of the Farm, Askhat Tuleuov. According to her, he threatened her with physical violence through third parties. Murzagulova says that because of what is happening, she fears for her own safety and the safety of her family.
STAFF TURNOVER, FIRE AND OTHER PROBLEMS
Since the arrival of Farm "Barys", the LLP's staff has been reduced from 23 to 11 people: specialists are resigning and "do not want to work with the new investor". Wage arrears remain for those who have left - these obligations have still not been settled by Farm "Barys".
Under the contract, Farm "Barys" takes 80% of the hay from the LLP's lands and sells it at its own discretion - using the machinery and workers of the LLP itself, and selling the hay straight from the fields. The remaining 20% is only enough to feed for three months, after which hay has to be bought in - from that same Farm "Barys". Other crops are also grown on the leased land, and how the feed situation will develop is unknown. Furthermore, according to Murzagulova, the investor without approval resold a header belonging to the LLP.
WHY QUESTIONS REMAIN FOR NANOC ITSELF
Previously, FBRK reported that the interest in the LLP "Kazakh Tulpar" might not be so much about the unique horses as about its land. But there is another potential resource - state subsidies for preserving the Kostanay breed. These can only be obtained with breeding passports, which the state allocates only to the LLP "Kazakh Tulpar" as the sole official breeder of the breed.
This ultimately raises an awkward question: who is the state structure protecting today - its own enterprise or its investor? And if no answer is forthcoming, there is a risk that in this story, the right to be considered the injured party will go not to the one who actually suffered losses, but to the one with greater administrative capacity to retain their position, influence, and reputation.
The editorial board of FBRK will continue to follow developments.
