Photo: t.me/aqorda_resmi/
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the arrest of senior executives at the Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ, Kazakhstan Railways), calling the incident «a serious signal of widespread corruption in state-owned companies,» the Akorda press service reported.
Speaking at an operational meeting of the Security Council, Tokayev emphasized that the investigation has just begun and details cannot yet be disclosed. He described the case as the first major probe into state corporations since the adoption of the «Law and Order» concept and its enshrinement in the Constitution.
«No one is permitted to violate the Constitution or mock this sacred document,» the president said.
He ordered officials to promptly and thoroughly investigate all corruption reports regarding executives at all levels. The Anti-Corruption Service of the National Security Committee (NSC), alongside the Prosecutor General's Office, will lead the effort.
«There will be no division into 'insiders,' 'outsiders,' or anyone in between. Our Constitution enshrines the equality of all citizens before the law,» the head of state said.
Tokayev noted that Samruk-Kazyna manages the country's strategic assets, oversees major investment projects, and partners with foreign firms and financial institutions. He warned that corruption scandals could erode investor confidence and damage Kazakhstan's international reputation.
At the same time, the president stressed that the arrests must not disrupt the fund's operations. On the contrary, he said, rooting out corruption will bolster trust among investors and creditors while making Samruk-Kazyna's activities more transparent.
Official graft remains one of Kazakhstan's most pressing challenges. During the first ten months of 2026, authorities registered 751 corruption-related offenses across the country. Civil servants committed 546 of these violations, while 205 involved other figures, including quasi-public sector employees.
The previous day, reports emerged that NSC officers had detained Samruk-Kazyna CEO Nurlan Zhakupov and Kazakhstan Railways CEO Elzhas Otynshiyev on suspicion of corruption. According to Ulysmedia, the executives face charges of attempted large-scale bribery.
Samruk-Kazyna holds $69 billion in assets, including national flagships KazMunayGas, Kazakhtelecom, Kazakhstan Railways, Kazatomprom, and Air Astana. Nurlan Zhakupov took the helm of the fund in April 2023 after serving in leadership roles at major Kazakh and international corporations.
The 39-year-old Otynshiyev was appointed head of Kazakhstan Railways in July of this year, having previously held senior positions at Samruk-Kazyna.
