Around $165bn transferred abroad illegally from Kazakhstan – expert

Kairbek Arystanbekov, director of the Institute of Economic Policy, spoke about the main takeaways from Kazakh President Tokayev’s interview to Egemen Kazakhstan newspaper in a talk with Kazinform News Agency correspondent. 

Arystanbekov thinks that the interview is unique as Tokayev gave answers to the questions troubling the nation within the past year.

According to the international practice, such interviews are a form of the Head of State’s feedback with the people. The talk can be described as a small address to the people as it covers social and economic facets of the country’s life, including the 2022 January events. I think that the President gave an in-depth, full and far-reaching assessment of the events and answered many issues of concern to the nation, said the speaker.

He believes that mentioning of dual power in the country at the time was appropriate.

Prior to the January events, there were indeed two leaders. I think that at the time such a situation occurred in the constitutional structure of Kazakhstan. There were two leaders leading to the state apparatus and the elite losing their sense of direction. The country was in a state of duality, said Arystanbekov.

The director of the Institute of Economic Policy also spoke about the measures taken after the January events to repatriate assets illegally transferred from the country.

According to the latest data, the properties worth around KZT1trl (over $2bn at the current exchange rate) have been returned. Arystanbekov stressed that around $162-165bn were illegally transferred abroad.