President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received the head of the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) Zhanat Elimanov. The Head of State heard a report on the agency's results for the first half of 2026 and set tasks for the coming period.
WHAT RESULTS THE AFM PRESENTED
Zhanat Elimanov reported that during the first half of 2026, investigations into 496 criminal cases were completed. Damages amounting to 22.6 billion tenge were compensated to victims. Additionally, 7 criminal groups were neutralised, including 4 transnational ones, and the activities of 44 networks involved in the illegal cashing out of funds, with a total turnover exceeding 176 billion tenge, were shut down.
Furthermore, 12 shadow cryptocurrency exchangers were liquidated, which, according to the AFM, were used to launder proceeds from drug trafficking and fraud. Also, 36 dropshipper cells were identified, through whose accounts transactions worth 113 billion tenge were carried out.
WHAT SCHEMES WERE IDENTIFIED
As reported by the AFM, for the first time in the CIS countries, the activities of individuals using specialised equipment to simulate the work of mobile phone operators and to mass-send phishing SMS messages were uncovered, with the aim of illegally obtaining citizens' personal data.
The chair also reported on the results of monitoring budget expenditures. According to him, unjustified spending on 52 infrastructure projects amounting to 279 billion tenge was prevented.
In addition, risks of embezzling state funds to the tune of 10 billion tenge were identified in the commercialisation of scientific developments. According to the agency, a scheme involving the fictitious registration of 140,000 citizens was also uncovered, designed to allow private clinics to illegally obtain funding from the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
WHAT MEASURES WERE TAKEN TO PREVENT VIOLATIONS
According to the AFM, as part of preventive work, access to 9,000 websites and accounts showing signs of illegal gambling businesses was blocked. The activities of 2,300 fraudulent internet resources and 25 group chats with a total audience of over 35,000 people were also ceased.
Financial literacy initiatives reached over 245,000 citizens. Furthermore, thanks to improvements in legislation regarding financial monitoring, Kazakhstan's rating was raised on 4 key recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF).
WHAT INSTRUCTIONS THE PRESIDENT ISSUED
Following the meeting, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gave the AFM a number of specific instructions on key areas of activity. The materials do not specify the content of these instructions.
