Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gave the government and oversight agencies until November 24 to propose ways to curb corruption and improve state-linked companies, after senior executives at the country’s state investment fund and national railway were detained.
At a November 13 Security Council meeting, Tokayev called the detentions a serious warning about corruption in state-owned businesses. He said the investigation was at an early stage, limiting what authorities could disclose. Reports identified the executives as Nurlan Zhakupov, head of Samruk-Kazyna, and Yelzhas Otynshiyev, head of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, or KTZ.
The national security service said they and others were detained on suspicion of offenses related to corruption. Officials have not publicly explained what the people are alleged to have done or what role each is suspected of playing. Tokayev said reports of corruption involving officials should be checked promptly and thoroughly, regardless of rank or connections.
He cited 751 corruption offenses recorded in the first 10 months of 2026, including 205 involving people outside the civil service, such as employees at state-linked organizations. The president said the detentions should not interrupt the companies’ work. He said Samruk-Kazyna and KTZ were continuing to operate normally.
His November 24 deadline calls for specific proposals to reduce offenses and improve the performance of state-linked companies and their staff.