Court proceedings continue in Astana over the death of 23-year-old ambulance paramedic Uldana Myrzuan. In court, the deceased's ex-husband, Adilet Zeinel, spoke about the events of 8 November 2025, the 20 million tenge received after the tragedy, and how those funds were spent.
WHAT THE EX-HUSBAND SAID
According to Adilet Zeinel, on the morning of the day of the tragedy, they travelled together from Kosshy to Astana. Uldana started her shift with the Baikonur district ambulance team, while he went on duty at the First City Hospital.
Later, the woman told her husband that she had been dispatched to a call. At around 10:50, Adilet received an internal phone call asking him to come down to the admissions department to identify his wife. According to him, he initially thought it was a joke, as he had been messaging Uldana shortly beforehand.
WHERE THE 20 MILLION TENGE WENT
In court, Adilet Zeinel said that after the funeral, he and Uldana's sister went to the Astana akimat. According to him, the akim, his deputy, and maslikhat deputies were present. One of the deputies handed them 20 million tenge in cash as financial support.
"There was no receipt, we didn't sign anything," Zeinel said. He claims he does not remember the deputy's name and surname.
Of the amount received, 9.2 million tenge went towards paying off the loan on Uldana's car. A further 4.5 million tenge was given by Zeinel to her mother. Around 4.3 million tenge covered debts on other loans. The remaining funds, he said, went towards the memorial wake, charitable donations, and other funeral expenses. He could not name the exact amount of these expenses.
WHO IS ON TRIAL
On trial is the chairwoman of the homeowners' association (OSI), Saule Zhubaniyazova. She is charged with negligence in the performance of her duties. The defendant pleads not guilty.
Zhubaniyazova has stated that she had held the position of OSI chairwoman for around six months and had seen no visual signs of problems with the facade. According to her, in 2016, the previous management did not pass on documents to her indicating that the building was supposedly 30% unsafe. She also noted that a facade inspection costs between 5 million and 10 million tenge, and that hidden defects cannot be identified through visual inspection alone.
The head of the OSI association, Erlan Karbayev, told the court that responsibility for construction defects cannot automatically be placed on OSI chairpersons. According to him, the inspection showed that the facade collapsed due to incorrect fastening to the wall.
WHY THE QUESTION OF THE JUDGE'S RECUSAL AROSE
During the proceedings, the defendant's lawyer, Askhat Alimov, called for the recusal of the presiding judge, Meruert Abayeva. The defence argued that the lawyer had joined the case on 20 August and had not had time to review the criminal case, which consists of 12 volumes.
The court refused to adjourn the hearing. Following this, the defence counsel filed a motion for recusal under Article 87 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The matter was considered by Samat Sembayev, Acting Chairman of the Astana Interdistrict Criminal Court. The motion to recuse Meruert Abayeva was rejected, and the case continued under her chairmanship.
Adilet Zeinel himself also told the court that he does not wish to place blame on anyone and leaves that question to the court's discretion. Furthermore, he asked to be removed from his status as a victim, explaining that after entering a new marriage, he wants Uldana's mother to continue representing her interests.
The trial continues.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PARAMEDIC
On 8 November 2025, Uldana Myrzuan arrived at a call to a nine-storey building on Tauelsizdik Avenue, 24B in Astana. Brick cladding collapsed from the building's facade, and while she was providing assistance, structural elements also fell on the paramedic.
Five people were injured as a result of the incident. Uldana spent 10 days in intensive care and died in hospital on 18 November 2025.
