Reports emerged online about the detention of Nurlan Sergaliyev, rector of the West Kazakhstan State University named after Makhambet Utemisov. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan and the KNB commented on the matter, reports NUR.KZ.
The Committee for Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry confirmed that on July 21, 2026, Nurlan Sergaliyev, Chairman of the Board and Rector of the non-profit joint-stock company 'West Kazakhstan University named after Makhambet Utemisov,' was detained by officers of the Department of the KNB for the West Kazakhstan Region. The ministry noted that investigative matters fall under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies and that the university is cooperating. By order of the minister dated July 23, 2026, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Gulzhakhan Kaisagaliyeva was appointed acting rector.
The KNB responded to journalists' inquiries, stating that a pre-trial investigation is underway and that, in accordance with Part 1 of Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code, no further information may be disclosed.