Kazakh President’s Great-Nephew Owns Two State-Backed Universities

· Investigations · Kazakhstan

A 23-year-old Kazakh man owns two new universities that received significant state support, and reporters found that he is the great-nephew of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The young man founded two major educational ventures that later obtained backing from the state, according to reporting that traced the ownership. The link to the president’s family raises questions about favoritism and the use of public resources to benefit relatives of top officials. The case fits a pattern seen in the region, where family connections and opaque ownership structures can channel state contracts and funding to a narrow circle. The universities’ state support and the founder’s lineage are the central facts of the investigation.

Why it matters：The investigation illustrates how political connections can secure state backing for private ventures, a recurring governance risk in emerging markets that can distort competition and public spending.

Key points

  • A 23-year-old Kazakh owns two new universities.
  • Both ventures received significant state support.
  • He is the great-nephew of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Sources (original reporting)

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