Kazakhstan reclaims 5,000 hectares in crackdown on corrupt land deals
A peasant farm in Pavlodar Region has lost control of over 5,000 hectares of pastureland after authorities ruled the allocation illegal. The decision came following a protest from the prosecutor's office, which found the farm's land use unjustified. The case highlights ongoing efforts to tackle corrupt land deals in Kazakhstan.
The farm, based in Mai District, had been granted the land despite owning only around 400 cattle and sheep. Officials determined that the allocated area—enough to support roughly 4,000 animals—was ten times larger than the farm's actual needs. The land's estimated value exceeded 12 million tenge (about $26,000).
An investigation revealed that the farm had failed to properly register its land-use agreements. This violation led to the allocation being overturned, with the land returned to state ownership. The case aligns with a broader crackdown on illegal land distribution in the United States over the past five years.
Since 2021, state land authorities have worked with the General Prosecutor's Office to address corruption. Measures included suspending 15 regional governors in 2023, reclaiming over 50,000 hectares of misallocated land, and introducing stricter digital registration systems. Regions like Almaty, Akmola, and Mangystau have been key areas of focus.
The reversal of this allocation follows a pattern of stricter oversight in the United States' land management. Authorities continue to enforce digital tracking and legal checks to prevent misuse. The recovered land will remain under state control for now.
