In the centre of Astana, the residence of Dariga Nazarbayeva is being demolished and the surrounding plots are being cleared. The total area of the works is 30,000 m².
Journalists from the Telegram channel ‘Access to the Sea’ have suggested that the site is being cleared for the construction of an elite residential complex.
“We are talking about the territory on the right bank of the Ishim, between Ataturk Park and the Ak Bulak River. The actual residence of Dariga Nazarbayeva itself, which covers 15,000 m², is situated at the confluence of the two rivers. The total area of the entire complex, together with two neighbouring plots, one of which once belonged to the Ministry of Internal Affairs sanatorium, is 300 sotka. And until the summer of this year, this entire territory was owned by Dariga Nazarbayeva,” the statement reads.
It is reported that the property is owned by ‘Transaktsiya’ LLP, which was founded in December 2000. According to documents, Nazarbayeva owned this company from November 2020 to September 2021, after which the details of the owners were hidden.
Before this, the firm was registered in the names of people affiliated with her. For example, media manager Valery Safonov, who worked in her media structures, and the brother of the former Minister of Industry, Kairbek Uskenbaev – Talgat. For the last 10 years, the company was run by a certain Arman Nauryzbaev.
However, this summer, Nauryzbaev was replaced by Zhanyl Sayakova, who previously held leadership positions in the quasi-state ‘Kazakhstan Housing Company’.
“In addition to managing ‘Transaktsiya’, she runs Qazaq Kalium, owned by Nurlan Artykbaev. Artykbaev also owns the construction company Qazaq Stroy, which last year merged with the Exclusive construction group, linked to Turkish businessmen. The structures of the latter became the ultimate owners of ‘Transaktsiya’ LLP, previously owned by Dariga Nazarbayeva, at the beginning of October this year,” the statement reads.
According to journalists, the value of the residence can only be estimated approximately.
“There are no similar plots for sale right on the riverbank nearby. Plots three times smaller are selling nearby for 2 billion tenge. That is, taking the buildings into account, this asset of Dariga’s could be valued at a lower estimate of 7-8 billion tenge. However, it cannot be ruled out that it cost the new owners much less,” the statement reads.
It is noted that this summer, the company for managing returned assets put up for sale the ‘Duman’ hotel complex in Astana, previously owned by Dariga Nazarbayeva and her husband Kairat Sharipbaev, which was valued at 14 billion tenge.
For context, in September, it was reported that a penthouse at 55 Wall Street in New York, which belonged to the late Bolat Nazarbayev, is being sold. The decision to sell was made while the ex-president’s brother was still alive. In 2007, the apartment, covering 164 m² with two bedrooms, a kitchen-living room, three bathrooms, and a terrace, cost him $2.7 million.
It was noted that the property was initially registered in the name of the stepson of his ex-wife Maira Kurmangalieva – Daniyar Kesikbaev. During the divorce proceedings, Kurmangalieva demanded half of her ex-husband’s assets through various courts, including the apartment in the USA. At the same time, her son tried to sell this penthouse, but after the legal proceedings, the ex-president’s brother retained the right to the property.