The Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA), with the assistance of Interpol from the Republic of Korea, has returned Ulan Baibolov to Kazakhstan, who had previously been placed on the international wanted list. According to the investigation, he was a member of an organised criminal group (OCG) whose activities were linked to the systematic evasion of taxes and other mandatory payments to the budget.
WHAT THE INVESTIGATION BELIEVES THE SCHEME TO BE
Members of the group acquired and re-registered companies under nominee directors, conducted financial transactions through their bank accounts, submitted knowingly falsified information in tax reports, and then cashed out the funds.
One of the companies allegedly used in this scheme was the LLP "Sfera". In 2014, Baibolov was appointed deputy director of the company.
WHAT SUMS ARE INVOLVED IN THE CASE
According to the FMA, group members cashed out more than 2.5 billion tenge from the LLP's settlement accounts. In addition, the amount of additional taxes assessed exceeded 1 billion tenge.
The court authorised pre-trial detention for the suspect. The investigation is ongoing.
No further information is subject to disclosure in accordance with Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT BAIBOLOV'S LEGAL STATUS
At this stage, Baibolov is a suspect, and his guilt has not been established by a court verdict that has entered into legal force.
CONTEXT
Tax evasion remains one of the categories of cases for which the FMA and law enforcement agencies conduct criminal investigations.
In October 2025, a suspect in tax evasion amounting to 293 million tenge was extradited from the UAE. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, in 2018–2020, while holding the position of director of a commercial enterprise, he failed to pay corporate tax and VAT. The damage to the state amounted to more than 293 million tenge.
In September 2025, residents of Almaty were convicted for tax evasion amounting to 686 million tenge. According to the prosecutor's office, fake invoices were used without the actual delivery of goods, works, or services. The court sentenced the defendants to between 6 and 8 years in prison.
In tax evasion cases, law enforcement agencies are also investigating schemes involving financial transactions of online casinos. In Ukraine, property belonging to Maxim Sigalov, who is suspected of large-scale tax evasion, illegal organisation of gambling, and money laundering, has been seized.
