Kairat Perizat has received a court verdict
In a shocking turn of events, Perizat Kairat, once a revered figure in Kazakhstan's philanthropic circle, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Astana court on July 25, 2025[1]. The conviction came after she was found guilty of embezzling around 3.5 billion tenge (about $6.5 million) from donations collected by her charity foundation, Biz Birgemiz Kazakhstan 2030[1][2].
The criminal case involved three main episodes of fraudulent assistance campaigns:
- Collecting donations to help Kazakh families affected by COVID-19 in 2021.
- Fundraising to aid Palestinians affected by the 2024 Israeli assault on Gaza.
- Raising about $5 million for the victims of the devastating 2024 floods in Kazakhstan, but only about $1.7 million was used for humanitarian aid, with the rest embezzled[1][2].
The investigation revealed a scheme where Perizat transferred charitable funds to accounts of private entrepreneurs as fake payments for goods and services, then withdrew large sums in cash. Approximately 12 to 13 entrepreneurs were involved, each receiving around $150,000, which Perizat collected personally in large bags[2]. Testimonies during the trial detailed how the money intended for flood victims was siphoned off and spent on luxury real estate, jewelry, travel, and cars[1][2].
The properties identified as being purchased with embezzled funds include apartments in Akbulak Riviera, Sensata Plaza, Highvill Ishim Gold, and "Kök Zhaiyau" residential complexes, along with parking spaces. Additionally, a private house in Vela Village cottage town and 100% shares in the authorized capital of LLC "Rebel Flowers" were also identified as properties obtained through criminal means[1].
Four vehicles, including a Mercedes-Benz S450, Lexus LX 600, Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4matic, and Haval H6 GT, were also identified as properties obtained through criminal means[1]. Furthermore, $22,000 and 97 million tenge were found in Perizat Kairat's bank accounts[1].
The court ordered Perizat Kairat and her mother, Gaini Alashbaeva, to compensate 50 victims a total of 1,582 million tenge in damages[1]. The court also ordered a payment to the victims' fund of 20 MCI (72,000 tenge)[1].
In addition to the prison sentence, Perizat Kairat's properties purchased with embezzled funds were confiscated by the state[1]. The case stripped her of the philanthropic image she cultivated after recovering from a coma in 2020, revealing instead a calculated fraud scheme exploiting public goodwill across multiple humanitarian crises.
The trial was not open to the media during sessions where Perizat Kairat delivered her closing statement and final words[1]. Perizat Kairat was found guilty of fraud on an especially large scale (Article 190, Part 4, Paragraph 2), laundering funds on an especially large scale (Article 218, Part 3, Paragraph 3), and laundering funds (Article 218, Part 2, Paragraph 1)[1].
Gaiini Alashbaeva, Perizat Kairat's mother, refused to give testimony during the trial[1]. Earlier, Perizat Kairat's lawyer, Aslanbek Dauletiarov, stated that he would present irrefutable evidence in the case[1]. The court also ordered Perizat Kairat and her mother to pay 600,000 tenge for legal expenses[1].
Perizat Kairat was also stripped of her state award - the "Shapagat" medal[1]. The court set a one-month deadline for voluntary compliance with the verdict[1]. The exact details of the additional properties obtained through criminal means that will be confiscated were not provided in the available sources[1].
[1] - Kazakhstan Today, July 25, 2025 [2] - Astana Times, July 25, 2025 [3] - Tengrinews, July 25, 2025
- The trial's revelations about Perizat Kairat's misuse of funds have brought issues of crime and justice to the forefront in Kazakhstan's general-news landscape.
- Amidst the political landscape, Perizat Kairat's conviction for embezzling donations intended for humanitarian causes has raised questions about the ethics in Kazakhstan's politics of philanthropy.
