The executive director of the public association "Әділдік жолы" Didar Smagulov played a key role in exposing a large-scale corruption scheme involving the illegal distribution of land plots in the capital of Kazakhstan.
Thanks to his work, fraudulent activities that caused tens of billions of tenge in damage to the state budget were uncovered, and those responsible were held accountable. His story is a vivid example of how civic activism can stand up to systemic corruption.
Real heroes are not always in the spotlight. They do not wait for rewards, do not seek fame, and do not wear a cape, but through their actions, they make society better. Their efforts are aimed not at recognition but at real change, and that is what deserves respect.
One such person is Didar Smagulov — the executive director of the public association "Әділдік жолы". The organisation, which has branches in all regions of Kazakhstan, is engaged in identifying corruption schemes and fighting dishonest officials in cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Service.
One of the most high-profile cases that was uncovered concerned the illegal allocation of land plots in the capital. As Smagulov said, of more than 900 plots, only six were transferred via auction, although by law all land should be distributed this way.
Auctions allow plots to be sold at market price, generating profit for the state. However, bypassing this procedure, land was given out through JSC "Social-Entrepreneurial Corporation (SPK) 'Astana'", by concluding questionable contracts with private companies.
As a result, land plots ended up with certain individuals without a tender, and were then resold through advertisements. For a plot for construction in a prestigious area, one could pay up to two billion tenge in cash — and become its owner. Such a scheme caused colossal damage to the state budget, depriving the country of tens of billions of tenge.
According to Smagulov, these facts were proven in court, and the use of schemes with the SPK to transfer land without an auction was declared illegal. Notably, at the time, even the country's leadership was not aware of the scale of violations in the capital.
Spending his personal time without financial gain, Smagulov demonstrates that a principled fight for justice is possible. Such people deserve respect and recognition. It is precisely through honesty and commitment to the law that a strong society, where justice truly prevails, is formed.
The activities of the public association "Әділдік жолы" under the leadership of Didar Smagulov show that civil society can effectively counter corruption and contribute to establishing transparency in public administration. Thanks to such initiatives, it is possible not only to identify individual violations but also to change the system as a whole, making it fairer and focused on the interests of citizens, rather than a narrow circle of individuals.