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A significant financial mystery is unfolding in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, concerning the historic "Shimqala" citadel. A staggering 2.7 billion tenge allocated for its renovation and archaeological excavations appears to have disappeared without a trace, according to city officials.

Unaccounted Funds and Missing Documentation

Sarsen Kuranbek, Deputy Mayor of Shymkent, revealed that the historical site, intended to be a major tourist attraction, has been operating without proper documentation for six years. Crucially, neither a state act nor an acceptance-transfer act has been formalized for the complex.

The "Shimqala" historical and cultural complex was inaugurated in 2018. Between 2019 and 2021, a sum of 2.7 billion tenge was reportedly spent on archaeological work and construction. However, the city administration has no clear record of how these funds were utilized. Law enforcement agencies are now investigating the matter to ascertain the facts.

Past Corruption and Ongoing Investigations

This situation follows a previous corruption case involving the former head of the complex. Two years ago, the ex-director was convicted and served a sentence for accepting a bribe of 600,000 tenge from an employee of "Archeo-service" LLP. The bribe was allegedly to expedite the acceptance of acts and ensure timely payments.

Lost Artifacts and Uncertain Provenance

Adding to the concerns, 2,801 artifacts discovered during excavations were found to be in the possession of private individuals. While approximately 1,800 items have been returned following the Deputy Mayor's demands, nearly 1,000 artifacts remain unaccounted for. Officials face difficulties in identifying the current custodians of these items and formalizing their return. Although there is hope to recover all artifacts by the end of the year, their original provenance from the citadel and their necessity cannot be guaranteed.

Revenue Discrepancies and Museum Consolidation

Further complicating matters, revenue generated from ticket sales for entry to the citadel has also not been deposited into the state treasury. To address these legal irregularities, the "Shimqala" complex has been merged with the Museum of Victims of Political Repression, forming a unified museum association.

"Since 2018, not a single tenge from the citadel has reached the budget. However, ticket offices were operational, and people bought tickets. Where the money went is unknown. According to a presidential decree in 2024, establishing private state enterprises is prohibited. Therefore, we have united all museums and created a museum association. We have attached the citadel to the Museum of Victims of Political Repression. An order has been given to formalize the state act and acceptance-transfer act, open a cash desk, and ensure money enters the budget. The collected funds will be used for their own needs, rather than going directly into the budget," explained Sarsen Kuranbek.

Similar Issues at Abai Museum

A similar situation has been identified at the Abai Museum in Shymkent. This museum operated as part of the Abai Library without any legal documentation, and neither the building nor the land had formal acts. Plans are reportedly in place for the construction of a new museum in the future.

This is reported by the Infohub.kz information agency.