In the new review of the Kazakh-language press by Nazira Darimbet, important events are discussed, such as the insult to the Kazakh language by a deputy, the costs of referendums related to President Tokayev, the scandal involving Burger King Kazakhstan, the exit of the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF) from Air Astana investors, and compensation for Kazakhstan in the Karachaganak case. Details here.
Deputy: Kazakh language is the language of the poor!
Deputy of the Mazhilis, Samat Nurtaza, has been reported to the prosecutor's office for his offensive statement about the Kazakh language, reports Democrat.kz.
In his post published five years ago, Nurtaza stated that the Kazakh language is the language of the poor: “The Kazakh language is the language of the poor, it is the language of people pushing carts and waiters! Well, be outraged, poor people!”.
This post recently became relevant again when a screenshot began to spread actively on social media, causing widespread outrage. As a result, the deputy was forced to apologize, claiming that his words were emotional and aimed at drawing attention to language issues.
However, this did not stop the wave of indignation. Users discussed the situation on Threads and other social networks, with some even submitting complaints to the General Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan.
Opinions among commentators varied from calls for strict measures against the deputy to statements that such people should not hold public office. “A person who insults their language and traditions cannot be a deputy,” users wrote.
Interestingly, the renewed discussions about the post occurred against the backdrop of ongoing debates about the state language in the context of the new Constitution.
By the way, another post by Nurtaza is also recalled, where he commented on the choice of a Kazakh woman from Atyrau who married an African man, with derogatory remarks.
Tokayev's referendum expenses
With the upcoming referendum on the approval of the new Constitution, Stan.kz has calculated the costs of referendums during the presidency of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
On June 5, 2022, a referendum took place regarding amendments to the Constitution, for which 16.5 billion tenge was allocated, of which 1.6 billion was saved.
The second referendum took place on October 6, 2024, concerning the construction of a nuclear power plant and cost 15.5 billion tenge.
For the upcoming referendum on March 15, 20.8 billion tenge will be allocated. In total, the expenses for all referendums will amount to 52 billion tenge.
For comparison, during almost thirty years of Nazarbayev's rule, only two referendums were held in 1995, but information about the costs for them is not available.
Boycott of Burger King in Kazakhstan
The scandal surrounding the fast-food chain Burger King Kazakhstan erupted due to the dismissal of an employee with autism, reports Adyrna.kz.
Criticism of the brand on social media intensified after the mother of the dismissed cook, Alibek Karatay, spoke about the pressure on her son from the new management that came from Russia.
According to her, Alibek had worked for the company for about four years, but after the change of management, his working conditions sharply deteriorated. “He always worked well and took extra shifts, but when the new regional manager arrived, the pressure began,” she noted.
Zhanat Karatay also reported that other employees began to approach her with stories about violations of labor rights.
At the same time, Burger King management denied the information that Alibek was dismissed, claiming that he had voluntarily submitted his resignation.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan has begun an investigation into this matter, but meanwhile, social media users have already started a boycott of the chain.
“We are boycotting Burger King for humiliating the Kazakh people,” commentators expressed their outrage.
This case is not the first instance where Kazakhs express solidarity and refuse services from well-known brands in the context of national or language issues.
UAPF exits the list of Air Astana shareholders
According to the latest shareholder registry of JSC "Air Astana," published on January 1, 2026, the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF) is no longer listed, reports Nege.kz.
Previously, UAPF was the fourth-largest shareholder with a 6.54% stake. There was no official information about the sale of shares; however, in the third quarter of last year, the fund managed to sell only 0.55% of its stake.
Now, 41.18% of the shares belong to the state through the National Wealth Fund "Samruk-Kazyna," while 37.69% is nominally held by Citibank.
At a recent shareholders' meeting, it was decided to extend the powers of the current CEO, Peter Foster, and approve a deal to acquire 25 aircraft from Airbus, but the financial stability of Air Astana raises concerns.
The company's net profit for the nine months of 2025 amounted to 16.4 billion tenge, which is significantly lower than last year. There are fears that UAPF may have exited the list of investors precisely due to the deterioration of financial indicators.
Kazakhstan agreed on a sum of 3 billion
As a result of negotiations between Karachaganak Petroleum Operating and Kazakhstan, an agreement has been reached for a payment of about 3 billion dollars, reports the DALA INSIDE channel.
Kazakhstan won the international arbitration case regarding Karachaganak. The issue concerned the product sharing, where investors claimed inflated expenses, leading to a reduction in the share due to the state.
“After an independent audit, it was found that some of the claimed expenses were not agreed upon with Kazakhstan, which was the reason for the arbitration appeal,” noted the source.
According to the decision, Kazakhstan is to receive an amount between 2 to 4 billion dollars, which could significantly improve the situation in the republican budget.
Discussions are ongoing about the method of compensation payment: the money may be transferred to the National Fund or the PSA reports may be revised so that Kazakhstan receives funds in the form of an increased share. Some experts believe that the first option is more preferable.
