The akimat of the Kegen district in the Almaty region has commented on the situation regarding land disputes in the village of Saty, located at the foot of the Kolsai Lakes — one of Kazakhstan's key tourist routes. Following appeals from local residents about the illegal transfer of agricultural land, prosecutors have launched an inspection.
According to the International News Agency "Kazinform", at an earlier meeting with the akim of the Kegen district, Nurbakyt Tenizbayev, villagers alleged that former representatives of the village administration had transferred their land to third parties in violation of current legislation.
"My parents spent their whole lives farming here, growing potatoes, cabbage, and carrots. They paid taxes and worked this land. In 2016–2018, we wanted to build a house, but the then-akim of the village, Alibek Ibraev, said construction was impossible because the plot was supposedly designated for pastures. He took my father's state certificate 'for verification.' Later we found out that he had divided this land, 50 ares, and sold it to other people. Without our knowledge. The same fate befell our plot for a farming enterprise on the other side of the village," said a resident of the village, Yerbolsyn Akhmetov.
He also noted that he has been on the waiting list for land for 20 years but has yet to receive it. Other residents of the village have faced similar situations.
The district akimat reported that the inspection is being carried out by the prosecutor's office on the basis of Article 146 of the Land Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Materials concerning the disputed plots have been transferred to the land relations department of the Almaty region. A final decision will be made following the results of the inspection.
In parallel, the departments of land relations, architecture, and urban planning of the Kegen district are conducting an inventory of the specified plots.
"Regulation of land issues in the village of Saty and its surroundings is carried out on the basis of Articles 43, 44, and 48 of the Land Code. Due to the fact that the master plan of the settlement has not yet been approved, changes to the designated use of land are temporarily restricted," the statement said.
The akimat reported that the development of land management documentation is planned to be completed by the end of this year, along with amendments to the master plan. After these documents are approved, the authorities promised to begin a phased resolution of the issues raised in citizens' appeals.
Incidentally, the village of Saty was included in the list of the world's best tourism villages for 2023, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).