Almaty, Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan’s anti-corruption company mentioned Wednesday it had seized jewels price greater than $230 million, in a case involving the nephew of ex-leader Nursultan Nazarbayev.

“On account of operational-search actions, unique gems and treasured stones price 230 million US {dollars}” have been seized, the company mentioned in a press release.

The company gave no particulars on what sort of stones have been seized.

It confirmed to AFP the jewels have been discovered as a part of a brand new investigation in opposition to businessman Kairat Satybaldy, a nephew of Nazarbayev.

Nazarbayev, now 82, dominated the Central Asian nation from 1991 till 2019.

Satybaldy was arrested in March and charged with embezzlement from nationwide telecommunications operator Kazakhtelecom and “different crimes undermining state safety.”

He was handed a six-year jail time period in September.

Satybaldy is the primary member of the Nazarbayev household to be arrested.

The anti-corruption company additionally mentioned Wednesday that $300 million that he had invested overseas can be “quickly be given to the finances of Kazakhstan.”

In January 2021, greater than 230 folks have been killed in riots within the Central Asian nation, their trigger are nonetheless mysterious.

Present President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had estimated that they have been the results of a plot from overseas, saying “terrorists” wished to take energy, with out ever offering proof to this declare.

Tokayev, who’s operating for re-election on November 20, has since undertaken to strengthen his place and weaken that of his authoritarian predecessor.

The capital Astana, which was renamed in honour of Nazarbayev in 2019, regained its authentic identify in September. – AFP