Kazakh deputy economy minister admits withdrawing pension savings before threshold hike
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Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of National Economy Bauyrzhan Omarov admitted to withdrawing part of his pension savings before the government raised the withdrawal threshold in January 2025. The admission has sparked public criticism and calls for an ethics investigation into potential insider advantage.
The Admission
Vice Minister of National Economy Bauyrzhan Omarov stated that he withdrew a portion of his pension savings before the threshold for early withdrawals was raised from 10% to 30% of accumulated funds. The admission was made in an interview with Azh.kz, where Omarov said he 'managed to transfer' the money before the change took effect. He did not disclose the exact amount withdrawn.
Public Reaction
The revelation has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups, who accuse Omarov of exploiting non-public information for personal gain. Several lawmakers have called for an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Agency. The Ministry of National Economy has not issued an official statement on the matter.
What's Next
The Anti-Corruption Agency is expected to review the case following parliamentary requests. It remains unclear whether Omarov's actions violated any laws, as the threshold change was publicly announced, though the timing of his withdrawal has raised ethical questions.
2 sources
Kazakh deputy economy minister admits withdrawing pension savings before threshold hike
