The key facts

  • The KNB anti-corruption service detained the heads of Samruk-Kazyna and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy on November 11
  • Tokayev called the case the first major corruption case in state companies since the adoption of the Constitution and instructed the government to submit proposals within 10 days
  • Videos of money in Astana have not been officially confirmed

Detention of the heads of two largest state structures

Kazakhstan's National Security Committee reported that its anti-corruption service on November 11 detained the chairman of the board of the Samruk-Kazyna fund, Nurlan Zhakupov, and the head of the national company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, Elzhas Otinshiyev, on suspicion of corruption. According to the KNB, investigative actions are underway to establish all the circumstances of the case; details of the investigation will not be disclosed before trial in accordance with Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Who was detained and what they headed

Samruk-Kazyna was established in 2008, and its sole shareholder is the government of Kazakhstan; the fund manages the country's largest strategic enterprises and national companies. Zhakupov had headed the fund since 2025. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy is a transport and logistics holding, the main operator of the mainline railway network; 100% of its shares belong to Samruk-Kazyna. Otinshiyev became head of the company in July 2026.

Videos of money in Astana

Against the backdrop of reports of the detentions, several videos spread on social media which, according to users, show a suitcase with dollars and bags thrown out of the window of a residential complex in central Astana. One of the recordings shows police officers and people in civilian clothes. According to Tengrinews.kz, the police call came in on the morning of November 12. Users suggested that the money may be connected to the detention of the heads of the fund and the company, however Kazakhstan's law enforcement agencies have not commented on this information, and there is no official confirmation of a connection between the found banknotes and the investigation.

Tokayev's reaction

On November 13, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at an emergency meeting of the Security Council, stated that the detentions of the heads of Samruk-Kazyna and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy are an 'extremely serious signal' of large-scale corruption in state companies. According to him, this is the first major corruption case in state companies of the unified system since the proclamation of the 'Law and Order' concept and the inclusion of its principles in the Constitution, adopted 'practically unanimously' at a referendum on March 15. 'No one will be allowed to violate the Constitution and even, one might say, to mock this sacred document,' the president said.

Instructions to the government

Tokayev instructed the government to submit, within 10 days, concrete proposals for a sharp reduction in corruption offenses and for improving the quality of personnel in the quasi-state sector. He emphasized that all signals about corruption violations by leaders of any level will be checked by the KNB anti-corruption service with the participation of the prosecutor general's office, and that division into 'ours,' 'not quite ours,' and 'others' is unacceptable. The spending of state funds will be monitored by a special state commission, whose composition will be announced next week. The president also noted that behind each agreement of the fund with major foreign companies and international financial institutions stand years of negotiations and the international community's trust in Kazakhstan.