FBRK.KZ

The former vice-president of JSC "KazTemirTrans," Azamat Kapenov, has had his terminal at the "Dostyk" station confiscated. A court in Astana has converted the property into state revenue as part of an investigation, where the company's damage is estimated at over 5.2 billion tenge.

The Astana Judicial Board has reviewed the decision on compensation for moral harm in a case involving the transfer of a bribe to the chair of the court in the city of Konayev. The amount of payment has been reduced from 1 million tenge to 100,000 tenge. The decision has entered into legal force.

Residents of Aktau report persistent problems with the drainage system, which, they claim, is not working properly. Amid the complaints, financial violations have been identified in the operations of the enterprise "KZHSHA", including non-fulfilment of the tariff estimate to the tune of 30 million tenge and a fine. Across Kazakhstan as a whole, drainage systems are characterised by a high level of wear and tear, and their modernisation requires around 1.9 trillion tenge.

In Kazakhstan, changes to the rules on the capture and keeping of stray animals are being discussed, including the possibility of euthanasia and new holding periods. Animal rights activists have opposed the initiative, citing risks of abuse and the ineffectiveness of such measures, while some deputies support the changes, referencing budget costs. The Ministry of Ecology has clarified that euthanasia will not be applied automatically and that alternative solutions are possible.

A resident of the North Kazakhstan region discovered dozens of chicks on a rubbish dump that had hatched from discarded eggs. He heard chirping while unloading the rubbish, found the eggs among the waste, and took the chicks home. He published a video of the find on TikTok. It is believed that the eggs may have been thrown away by a poultry farm, although official agencies have not confirmed the source.

Kazakhstan's economy grew by 3% in the first quarter of 2026, despite a notable decline in the oil sector. The key factor behind this resilience was the strengthening of non-resource industries and a shift in the structure of growth.

In Kyrgyzstan, former Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic, Timur Shabdanbekov, has been detained on suspicion of abuse of office. According to media reports, six other committee employees, as well as a number of former officials and business representatives, have also been detained in connection with the same case. Official bodies have not disclosed details of the investigation and have not specified the circumstances of the case.

In Pavlodar, a ground collapse approximately six metres deep occurred during excavation work. Five people were trapped under the rubble, two of whom died and three were injured. Rescuers extracted the injured, and they received medical assistance. The police have launched an investigation, and compliance with safety protocols at the site is being reviewed.

In Ust-Kamenogorsk, student Olzhas Auelbekov, who intervened in a conflict on a bus and stood up for underage girls, received an award from Majilis deputy Lukbek Tumashinov. The incident occurred on 13 March, after which all participants were taken to the police. According to the Department of Internal Affairs of the East Kazakhstan Region, one man was held accountable for harassment, while the student himself was charged with petty hooliganism after using force.

In Kazakhstan, new rules for taking driving tests have been approved. Citizens are now allowed an unlimited number of paid retakes, with a minimum interval of ten days between attempts. Artificial intelligence technologies are also being introduced, oversight of the exam process is being strengthened, and administrative liability for violations is being imposed. Additionally, requirements for driving schools are being tightened and their licensing is under consideration.