Aliya Nazarbayeva and cutting at Kazakhfilm
The Almaty prosecutor’s office is investigating the theft of budget funds amounting to over 400 million tenge (more than $865 thousand) at the largest film studio in Kazakhstan, Kazakhfilm. About this on December 19 the press service reported supervisory authority.
The case is being handled by the Department of Economic Investigations. The prosecutor’s office noted that the stolen funds were allocated for the filming of the film, without specifying which film they were talking about.
Kazakh journalist Mikhail Kozachkov in his Telegram channel wrote that we are talking about the costs of the film “Uly Dala Tany” with the working title “Kasimkhan”. “I completed this large-scale project worth more than 4 billion [тенге, свыше $8,6 млн. — Прим. «Ферганы»] director Akan Sataev. He was the head of the film studio at that time,” the message says.
On Kinopoisk website it is indicated that the producer of the film “Uly Dala Tany” (“Dawn of the Great Steppe”), released in 2022, was the youngest daughter of the former president of Kazakhstan Aliya Nazarbayeva. Akan Sataev was appointed president of Kazakhfilm in 2020, replacing actor and producer Arman Assenov in this post. The director actively collaborated with Aliya Nazarbayeva. She is listed as the general producer and one of the scriptwriters for his historical film “Tomiris,” released in 2019. 149 million tenge was paid to Aliya Nazarbayeva for writing the script for the film “Tomiris”.
Aliya Nazarbayeva was the general producer of the film. Let us remind you that the film, produced by the Kazakhfilm film studio with the participation of the Sataifilm company by order of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is dedicated to the events of the 6th century. BC. and tells the life story of the great queen of the steppe – the legendary Tomiris.
In September 2017, the American magazine Holywood Reporter published article “Oscars: Kazakhstan nominated “The Road to Mother” in the category [фильмов] in a foreign language.”
Death of the debtor. A cardiologist burned himself and his villa in Switzerland, which was seized at the request of Aliya Nazarbayeva’s company
Published in German, Swiss The Tages-Anzeiger newspaper writes this week about a tragic incident in the country related to the activities of the business enterprise of the daughter of “the most influential person in Kazakhstan.” According to the publication, a 65-year-old cardiologist committed suicide by barricading himself in his house, which was put up for auction due to debts. He set fire to a villa in Zurichberg, from which he was about to be forcibly evicted. Among the creditors of the deceased, according to the newspaper, was the medical technology company Kerfuffle AG, which secured the seizure of the debtor’s property. Tages-Anzeiger journalists indicate that Aliya Nazarbayeva, the youngest daughter of the former president of Kazakhstan, has been on the board of directors of this company since 2016 Nursultan Nazarbayev and his wife Sarah. The newspaper tried to get in touch with 41-year-old Nazarbayeva, but she was unsuccessful. She contacted another board member, Irish lawyer Thomas John Gallagher, who declined to comment on the doctor’s death, saying he had “nothing to say on the matter.”
Gallagher’s LinkedIn profile states that he makes his living managing money for the “ultra-rich.” Journalists write that one of these people is Aliya Nazarbayeva, whose father, despite his resignation in 2019, has broad powers, heads the Security Council of Kazakhstan for life and enjoys the title “elbasy” assigned to him.
“For 29 years of rule [Назарбаева] his family has amassed a huge fortune,” writes Tages-Anzeiger, citing RFE/RL’s investigation into the Nazarbayevs’ luxury real estate properties in Europe and the United States, worth some $785 million. […]
The Swiss publication lists other scandals in which members of the Nazarbayev family were involved. It also writes about “unexplained wealth warrants” that were placed on mansions and an apartment in London worth a total of $80 million. The ultimate owners of this property are Nazarbayev’s eldest daughter Dariga, now a member of parliament, and her son Nurali Aliyev; the publication writes that they managed to defend their property in a British court.
The publication also reports that the president’s daughter makes films and positions herself as a philanthropist; she opened a foundation and established the Adam Bol Awards to reward people “who have committed heroic deeds.”
“What about Switzerland? — asks the author of the publication. “Here she has sole control of a shell company, namely Kerfuffle AG.” How did about 900 thousand francs pass from this company to a doctor from Hottingen and what role did the Irish lawyer Gallagher play in this? It was not possible to find out about this from Aliya Nazarbayeva. Various attempts to contact her were unsuccessful.”
“Akaev gave the young people 300 dollars. And Nazarbayev then gave Auezov’s book “Abai’s Path.” For the press.” Wedding of the son of the President of Kyrgyzstan Aidar and the daughter of the President of Kazakhstan Aliya in 1998.
Clan rule in the country was strengthening, the Akaev family was thinking about how to support itself from all sides. And I thought of it. The most luxurious wedding in the history of Kyrgyzstan took place on July 18, 1998. Son Askar Akayev Aidar married Nursultan Nazarbayev’s daughter Aliya. Few people know that this was his second marriage Aidara Akayeva. Evil tongues say that the first time he secretly married Gauhar Berkalieva, a famous socialite from Kazakhstan, or, more precisely, a lady of the demimonde (she is known to journalists as Goga Ashkenazi and among her lovers and husbands there were very influential, or even just royal persons). The number of scandals in which Gowhar was involved is simply difficult to imagine. The “young” were quickly and quietly divorced by the husband’s relatives. And then the prospect of intermarrying with the first family of Kazakhstan arose.
Evgenia Dotsuk, a political commentator from Kazakhstan, recalls this event:
…But two years passed, and the prince appeared. Having met, Aidar Akayev and Aliya Nazarbayeva very soon decided to get married. Was Nursultan Nazarbayev happy with his daughter’s decision? The groom, of course, is not bad, but Aliya is only 18! Surely Sara Alpysovna also lamented: her favorite flower will now grow not in the Alatau Mountains, but in the foothills of Ala-Too. But the daughter’s choice was still accepted. The athletic, tall Aidar Akayev, who inherited his father’s good nature and smiling personality, apparently made a pleasant impression on the family. And Nursultan Nazarbayev answered “yes” to Askar Akayev, who arrived to woo the youngest daughter of the Kazakh president. On July 18, a gorgeous wedding took place on the shores of Issyk-Kul.”
The presidents of all the Central Asian republics of the former Union gathered at the wedding table. This is what it says in the book “The Most Secret Relatives” of Nikolai Zenkovich:
The bride’s bouquet was published by all the leading media of the two countries: it was made in the colors of the flags of the two countries. However, the marriage did not last long. This is what the famous journalist from Kyrgyzstan Dmitry Glumskov recalls:
According to the Kazakh version, as well as the version of the spouses themselves, divorce is caused by differences in character and… property inequality. The second part of the version sounds mysterious, but evil tongues have been talking about the absurd character of Nazarbayev’s daughter for a long time. As well as about Aliya’s passion for drugs containing narcotic substances. The girl allegedly acquired this destructive passion during her studies in America.
According to the Kyrgyz version, Nursultan Nazarbayev loved Aidar very much and invited him to engage in various projects in Kazakhstan. But Akaev’s son said: “My father stood at the origins of the formation of the statehood of Kyrgyzstan not so that I could live somewhere,” and returned to Bishkek. Aliya refused to live in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Life in two houses – in Bishkek and Almaty – was not successful for the spouses.”
Thus, not only the young family was destroyed, but also the warm family relations between the two fraternal republics for many years.
What are the heroes of this story doing now? Aliya Nazarbayeva heads the board of directors of the Elitstroy construction company in Almaty,
is actively involved in social activities and charity work. In 2011, Nazarbayeva, according to Forbes of Kazakhstan, presented, together with the Italian jewelry house Damiani, the Alsara jewelry line (the name hints at a combination of two names: Aliya and the name of her mother, Sarah).
In addition, he acts in films. Yes Yes. Last year, Aliya was cast in the role of Tamerlane Rabia’s granddaughter in the TV series “Kazakh Khanate.” The series, the script of which is based on the novel “The Spellbound Sword” by Ilyas Yesenberlin, is being filmed as part of the celebration of the 550th anniversary of Kazakh statehood announced in Kazakhstan.
Aidar Akayev was much less fortunate. Not only has he lost, naturally, his entire business in Kyrgyzstan (taken, let’s be honest, during his father’s reign from his compatriots), not only is Interpol very sluggishly looking for him, he is constantly haunted by the most incredible rumors. The most striking one, which was spread by the Bakiyevites, is that Aidar allegedly killed his third wife, Saykal Chokubaeva, in 2005, whom he married in 2003. This ridiculous rumor in the wake of the 2005 revolution was in no way refuted by photographs and full-fledged interviews for 6 whole years.
Today, Aidar, again according to rumors, is busy breeding quails in the Moscow region. Business is booming. His wife supports him in everything.