Kazakhstan Sentences Former Justice Minister Beketayev in Major Corruption Case

Marat Beketayev, Kazakhstan’s former Minister of Justice, has been sentenced to nine years in prison with confiscation of property following a conviction on charges of large-scale corruption. The verdict, delivered on June 30 by a Kazakh court, marks the latest in a string of prosecutions targeting figures associated with the former ruling elite — widely referred to as the “Old Kazakhstan.”

Former Justice Minister Found Guilty of Fraud and Embezzlement

The Anti-Corruption Service of Kazakhstan announced that Beketayev was found guilty of fraud, embezzlement on an especially large scale, and illegal participation in business activities. While the full details of the case remain classified, authorities revealed that Beketayev had awarded lucrative and unnecessary government contracts to a company with which he had undisclosed ties, resulting in significant financial damage to the state.

The charges were formally filed in March 2025. Beketayev was arrested in October 2023 while allegedly attempting to flee the country. He had served as Minister of Justice from 2016 until the turbulent days of early 2022 and was briefly appointed an advisor to the Prime Minister before being quietly dismissed later that year — a move only made public in early 2023.

A Symbol of “Old Kazakhstan”

Beketayev’s fall from grace is emblematic of the sweeping political and judicial shifts underway in Kazakhstan since the violent unrest of January 2022 — events now seared into national memory as “Qantar” or “Bloody January.” The unrest, initially sparked by fuel price hikes, spiraled into nationwide chaos that saw public buildings stormed, military units attacked, and 238 people killed, including civilians and security personnel. The worst violence unfolded in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city.

In the wake of the uprising, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sought assistance from the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to restore order. The government has since attributed the turmoil to a coup attempt orchestrated by loyalists of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled Kazakhstan for nearly three decades before stepping down in 2019.

The response to the Qantar events has been swift and unforgiving. Dozens of high-ranking officials have been purged, prosecuted, or imprisoned in what many analysts describe as a comprehensive dismantling of Nazarbayev’s patronage network. The political narrative has been dominated by the contrast between “New Kazakhstan” — Tokayev’s reformist administration — and the “Old Kazakhstan,” symbolized by entrenched corruption and authoritarian rule.

Political Fallout and High-Profile Prosecutions

Beketayev’s conviction follows similar fates for other powerful figures from the Nazarbayev era. Among them is Karim Massimov, the former Prime Minister and head of the National Security Committee, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempting to overthrow the government. Nazarbayev’s relatives have not been spared: nephews Samat Abish and Kairat Satybaldy also faced legal scrutiny. Abish received an eight-year suspended sentence, while Satybaldy, accused of massive financial crimes, avoided jail by paying approximately $1.5 billion in restitution.

The purge has not been limited to elites. Many activists and ordinary citizens involved in the Qantar protests have faced trials and prison sentences. Critics argue that while the government claims to be uprooting corruption, it also risks stifling political dissent under the guise of reform.

Beketayev’s Controversial Legacy

Beyond domestic politics, Beketayev’s legacy is linked to one of Kazakhstan’s most damaging international legal battles — the Stati case. In 2017, an arbitration dispute with Moldovan businessmen Anatol and Gabriel Stati led to the freezing of $22 billion from Kazakhstan’s National Fund, largely composed of oil revenues. The affair cost the country dearly, both financially and reputationally, and Beketayev’s handling of the case drew sharp criticism from legal experts and transparency advocates.

His conviction now serves as both a symbolic and strategic win for President Tokayev’s administration as it continues its effort to distance itself from the Nazarbayev era.

A Broader Reckoning

As Kazakhstan redefines its political identity, the prosecution of figures like Marat Beketayev underscores the state’s determination to turn the page on decades of elite impunity. Whether this campaign will bring meaningful reform or merely shift power within the same political apparatus remains to be seen. For now, Beketayev’s imprisonment adds another chapter to a volatile and transformative period in Kazakhstan’s post-Soviet history.