(12 March 2026 | Source: National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan)
The National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NSC) informed the editorial board of FBRK about the conduct of a pre-trial investigation following a journalistic request regarding possible corruption in the agricultural control system. The department neither confirmed nor denied information about the possible detention of an official.
WHAT THE EDITORIAL BOARD REQUESTED
The editorial board of FBRK received information about the possible detention of the head of the Turkestan Regional Territorial Inspectorate of the State Inspection Committee in the Agro-Industrial Complex (AIC) of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MoA RK).
In connection with this, the editorial board of FBRK sent an official request to the NSC asking:
- to confirm or deny the fact of the detention;
- to report whether operational and investigative measures were carried out;
- to clarify the article of the investigation and the procedural status of the case.
WHAT THE NSC RESPONDED
The NSC reported that a pre-trial investigation is being conducted, and other information is not subject to disclosure in accordance with Part 1 of Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Thus, the NSC neither confirmed nor denied the information about the possible detention, nor did it clarify the article of the investigation or the procedural status of possible persons involved.
CONTEXT
It should be recalled that the State Inspection Committee in the AIC of the MoA is responsible, among other things, for organising and controlling work to combat locust pests.
Earlier, the editorial board of FBRK analysed the public procurement system in this area. In particular, it was reported that in 2024, over 3.2 billion tenge was allocated from the government reserve for locust control, the bulk of which was directed towards the purchase of pesticides and carrying out chemical treatments of agricultural land.
In separate publications, FBRK also examined the procurement of equipment for these works. For instance, using programme funds, 46 agricultural drones were purchased at a total cost of approximately 368 million tenge. Later, 27 of them were transferred to the supplier for warranty repairs, although the reasons for the malfunctions and the timelines for restoring the equipment were not specified in public materials.
Furthermore, the media previously reported on corruption investigations in structures related to the phytosanitary control system. For example, in the Zhambyl Region, the acting head of the regional branch of the State Enterprise "Phytosanitation", which is also under this committee, was detained. She is suspected of receiving a bribe in the amount of 400,000 tenge.
The editorial board of FBRK continues to monitor the development of the situation.