Quite recently, the editorial team at FBRK obtained bank documents that paint an unusual portrait of deputy Askar Mozhanov — the head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the East Kazakhstan Region (EKR). According to payments from November 2023, the state official made a trip to Astana, which was financed by the operator of the Torpedo hockey club through an intermediary entrepreneur.
But let's take things in order.
In early October, deputy Askar Mozhanov found himself at the centre of a scandal. A video from an online meeting went viral in the media, showing the head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports, dressed informally, repeatedly using swear words when speaking with subordinates. As expected, the incident provoked a lively reaction.
The EKR akimat held a meeting with the official, the material was handed over to the Ethics Council, and the press service of the Ministry of Sports noted that his behaviour did not conform to the department's principles.
Allow us, however, to tell another interesting story about Askar Mozhanov, shared by an anonymous source. Several years ago, Alma Service LLP, the operator of the Torpedo hockey club, appears to have acted as the financial source for a state official's trip to Astana.
On 27 November 2023, the club transferred 145,600 tenge to the account of individual entrepreneur (IE) Roman Bogachenko. This money went directly to the Hotel branch of Incom Astana LLP and paid for Mozhanov's stay from 26 to 27 November — one night in a capital hotel. 
The next day, 28 November, the club transferred another 388,000 tenge, also to the account of IE Bogachenko. This payment was intended to organise the second stage of the trip — a three-day stay in another hotel. Bogachenko, in turn, forwarded this money to the travel agency Ever Rest Group LLP, run by Vyacheslav Borisov.
According to a certificate of work completed dated 1 December 2023, Ever Rest Group undertook to organise Mozhanov's accommodation for three days at 100,000 tenge per day. Total for three days — 300,000 tenge. The agency, which is engaged in tourism activities, issued an invoice to IE Bogachenko for this same amount. 
Roman Bogachenko himself, according to data from the kompra.kz service, is involved in the manufacture and sale of office furniture and furniture for trade enterprises. In other words, Bogachenko is an ordinary businessman with no connection to the hotel and tourism sector, and his only role in this story was to act as a financial conduit between the club and the travel agency.
Herein lies the crux of the problem. Instead of directly paying the hotel bills, the club transfers money to IE Bogachenko, who then redirects the funds to the hotels. This scheme creates a blurred chain of responsibility and hides the real sponsor of the trip. Formally, it appears that the hotels provided services to IE Bogachenko, and not to the state official. In reality, however, all expenses were borne by the hockey club, covering the business trip of the head of the regional Department of Physical Culture and Sports.
This creates a conflict of interest that requires explanation. Can a state official, heading a regional Department of Physical Culture and Sports, simultaneously receive financial support from the operator of a sports club that falls under his administrative control and supervision? The law requires civil servants to declare gifts, benefits, and other material advantages received from interested parties and organisations. Payment for a multi-day trip to the capital can hardly be considered 'just a courtesy' in the context of official relations between a state department and a business entity under its supervision.
Askar Mozhanov is indeed a prominent figure in Kazakhstani sport. From 2016 to 2019, he previously headed the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the EKR, then held the position of head of the Department for Mobilisation Preparation of the EKR Akimat. In 2023, he returned to his role in the region's physical culture and sports structure, where he currently works. In addition to his administrative experience, Mozhanov can boast serious sporting achievements: he is an honoured master of sport and a five-time world champion in kickboxing.
The events of 2023 are in the past, but they are extremely important in the context of what is happening now. The story of a state official's trip being financed by a sports club looks, at the very least, strange and makes one think about Mozhanov's approach to using his official position. The recent story involving swearing, informal dress, and disregard for official ethics looks completely different in this light.