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Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Nets Billionaire Nephew of Former President

In a stunning turn of events, Kairat Satybaldyuly, the eldest nephew of Kazakhstan’s former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, has been caught in the crosshairs of the country’s anti-corruption campaign. Satybaldyuly, who had managed to keep a low profile in terms of his wealth, was apprehended by government agents as he was about to depart Almaty in a rented private jet.

As investigators delved into Satybaldyuly’s meticulously kept notes, they uncovered evidence that led to the surrender of a staggering 733 billion tenge ($1.65 billion) worth of assets to state ownership. This amount would have catapulted him to the seventh-richest Kazakh on Forbes’s billionaire list this year, a stark contrast to his estimated wealth of $160 million in 2018.

The crackdown on corruption comes on the heels of deadly protests that rocked Kazakhstan earlier this year, resulting in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev enlisting the help of Russian troops to quell the unrest. In the aftermath, Nazarbayev’s family and inner circle have faced significant repercussions, with Satybaldyuly bearing the brunt of the government’s efforts to dismantle their economic stronghold.

Despite attempts to conceal his fortune, Satybaldyuly’s meticulous record-keeping ultimately led to his downfall. His case serves as a cautionary tale in Kazakhstan’s fight against corruption, with President Tokayev aiming to hold the country’s power brokers accountable for their actions.