President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has instructed the government and regulatory bodies to submit concrete proposals by 24 November 2026 for sharply reducing corruption offences and improving the performance of quasi-state sector companies. The instruction came after the detention of the heads of Samruk-Kazyna and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ).
WHAT TOKAYEV SAID ABOUT THE DETENTIONS
On 13 November, at an operational meeting of the Security Council, the president described the detentions of the heads of two national companies as an extremely serious signal of large-scale corruption in state companies.
Tokayev stressed that the investigation has only just begun, so its details cannot yet be disclosed. At the same time, the head of state described what had happened as the first major corruption case in the system of state companies since the principle of "Law and Order" was enshrined in the Constitution.
The president separately drew attention to the responsibility of the heads of national companies to the state, investors and international partners.
CORRUPTION OFFENCES WORTH KZT 248 BILLION
The head of state cited statistics on corruption offences in Kazakhstan.
In 2023–2025, 3,168 corruption offences were identified, of which 2,165 were committed by civil servants. The rest were committed by other persons, including employees of the quasi-state sector. The total sum cited by the president exceeded KZT 248 billion.
In the first 10 months of 2026, a further 751 corruption offences were recorded. Of these, 546 were committed by civil servants and 205 by other persons, including employees of the quasi-state sector.
Tokayev acknowledged that the corruption situation remains difficult and said he intended to inform the public openly about the measures being taken.
KNB AND PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE TO CHECK CORRUPTION REPORTS
The president said that the Anti-Corruption Service of the National Security Committee (KNB), with the participation of the Prosecutor General's Office, will promptly and thoroughly check reports of corruption offences by officials at various levels.
"There will, of course, be no division into 'our own', 'not quite our own' and, even more so, 'outsiders'," the head of state stressed.
According to Tokayev, a person's position, past merits, personal or family ties cannot serve as grounds for exceptions to the law.
GOVERNMENT GIVEN DEADLINE OF 24 NOVEMBER
The president instructed the government and regulatory bodies to submit concrete proposals by 24 November 2026 for sharply reducing corruption offences, as well as for improving the performance of quasi-state sector companies and their employees.
At the same time, Tokayev stressed that the detentions must not disrupt the operations of the national companies.
According to him, Samruk-Kazyna and KTZ continue to operate as normal. All enterprises and institutions of the state companies also maintain their usual working arrangements.
The president also said that the authorities had reviewed certain agreements and contracts which, in his view, had been signed in error.
The head of state separately recalled the instruction to announce a new three-year moratorium on inspections of small businesses from 1 January 2027.
RETURNED ASSETS AND CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT
Tokayev said that the Prosecutor General's Office had secured the return of illegally acquired assets worth more than KZT 1.3 trillion.
These funds were directed towards financing 466 social and infrastructure facilities. Construction of 383 facilities has already been completed, including schools, medical institutions, water supply systems and sports complexes.
The president also raised the issue of checking the quality of the facilities built, especially roads.
Tokayev separately warned of corruption risks in the implementation of the "People's Construction" programme.
A special State Commission has been tasked with overseeing the spending of public funds; its composition is to be published at the beginning of next week.
