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Kazakhstan’s anti-corruption firm said on Wednesday it seized more than $230 million worth of jewelry in a case involving the nephew of former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev.
“As a result of operational survey activities, exclusive gems and gemstones worth $230 million were seized,” the firm said in a statement.
The firm did not give main points on the type of stones seized.
He told AFP that the jewels had been discovered from a new investigation against businessman Kairat Satybaldy, Nazarbayev’s nephew.
Nazarbayev, now 82, led the Central Asia squad from 1991 to 2019.
Satybaldy arrested in March and charged with embezzlement of funds from national telecommunications operator Kazakhtelecom and “other crimes against state security. “
He was sentenced to six years in criminal proceedings in September.
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Satybaldy, the first member of Nazarbayev’s circle of relatives to be arrested.
The anti-corruption firm also said Wednesday that the $300 million it had invested “will soon go into Kazakhstan’s budget. “
In January 2021, more than 230 people died in riots in this Central Asian country, their cause is still mysterious.
Current President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said they were the result of a plot from abroad, saying “terrorists” were seeking to seize power, but never proved this claim.
Tokayev, who is seeking re-election on Nov. 20, has since moved into his position and weakened that of his authoritarian predecessor.
The capital Astana, remembered in honor of Nazarbayev in 2019, returned to its call in September.
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