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Residents of Almaty, Kazakhstan, are expressing shock and concern over unexpected plans to demolish their homes in the Aynabulak-3 microdistrict. The residents discovered their properties are slated for removal as part of a new urban development project, leading to urgent calls for a fair resolution from the city administration.

Demands for Respect and Transparency

Following recent statements from constitutional commission members emphasizing the sanctity of private property, this marks the second instance in less than a month where Almaty residents have faced potential property loss. After the residents of the Kairat microdistrict, nearly a thousand households in the Aynabulak-3 area have learned of demolition plans.

Dozens of families residing on Ermolova, Pavlodar, Meshchersky, Kyzhitsky, Logovaya, and Voronezhskaya streets gathered recently to record a collective video appeal to Almaty Mayor Darhan Satibaldy.

Evgeny Kostandi, a resident, stated that city officials have not visited the area. This neighborhood, established in the early 1960s for railway workers, boasts existing infrastructure and a low crime rate. However, these factors have not prevented the proposed development, which reportedly favors multi-story buildings.

"We learned on December 26, 2025, during the discussion of Almaty's master plan, that our district was slated for complete demolition. We were not properly informed of such plans beforehand. We were sidelined. We believe this decision was made without our full input, violating the principles of transparency and clarity in urban development decisions. Guarantees for the protection of private property rights were not ensured. Of course, we are not against Almaty's development. We understand the city is growing, but development must be legal, transparent, and must consider the interests of residents. We demand the confirmation of our status as private housing construction. I emphasize private housing construction, with no other wording. This will make it easier for us to protect ourselves. I want to emphasize that we are protecting not only property but also people's respect and dignity for private property. We do not want the fate of our district to be decided behind our backs, without our participation," said Evgeny Kostandi.

Frustration with Bureaucratic Response

Upon hearing this news, residents attempted to engage in constructive dialogue with officials. An initial letter, containing an 18-page petition, was sent on December 26 to the akims of Almaty and Zhetysu districts, as well as the head of the city's architectural and construction control department and the chief architect of the city.

However, instead of meeting with residents, officials began forwarding the letters between departments and agencies. For instance, the letter was sent by the GASK to the city's architecture and urban planning department and the 'Almaty' Social Entrepreneurship Corporation.

The first response regarding the inquiry came from Sergey Chaikin, deputy director of the renovation department. Residents argue that their district does not need renovation. Meanwhile, Zakir Bekturganov, deputy chairman of the 'Almaty' SEC, forwarded the letter to a renovation specialist. Ultimately, those seeking to protect their rights received a response from an individual named Timur Talgatuly Tursbekov, which was incomprehensible, containing only the word "null.".

This lack of clear communication prompted residents to turn to the media. Their correspondence with the authorities, however, continued.

Complaining about the inaction of local authorities, a new letter was sent to the Committee for Construction Affairs of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Concerns Beyond Financial Compensation

Residents have now learned that their neighborhood's zoning was changed from private housing to multi-story building construction back in 2023, a change made without any public discussion or official notification.

According to local resident Anna Tsybriy, she was forced to change the documents for her land plot and house in 2025. At that time, it became known that opportunities had appeared that were previously unavailable to property owners in this part of Almaty.

"We re-registered the documents last year because the plot needed to be divided. Before, it couldn't be divided. We tried, but it didn't work. Last year, my neighbor and I went to the CSC, and suddenly such an opportunity appeared. We were happy that it was divided. And no one warned us about the demolition of the district," said Anna Tsybriy.

Now, Anna Tsybriy and her neighbor Ekaterina Alyaeva realize their previous joy was unfounded. According to Ekaterina, the area had all the necessary amenities. But one day, the asphalt on her street was broken, and pipes began to be replaced.

"We thought: that's good, the akimat took care of us. In reality, the ground was dug up for two years – we wore plastic bags on our feet and waited for the streets to be re-asphalted. And then we saw: a large construction site started below us. In conclusion, we understood who was really taken care of and where the water and sewage were directed," said Ekaterina.

Most of the participants in Sunday's meeting expressed opposition to the demolition. Their concerns extend beyond inadequate compensation. According to the plan they received, one-third of the district is designated as a park area. This implies the city authorities intend to spend significant budget funds to acquire these land plots and houses, which are described as well-maintained, not dilapidated structures. The question remains: who guarantees that this area will not eventually be covered by high-rise buildings?

Residents are also concerned about the disruption to their established way of life.

"There are many pensioners here, people close to retirement age. They grew up here and live here not because they couldn't move, but because they chose to. They have good houses, they have money, they could sell if they wanted to. But they didn't want to. And because of this decision, we will all be forced to seek a new life... No one asked us. In conclusion: we are used to living in a private sector, and we are not ready, we cannot live in an apartment," said local resident Sergey Kovalenko.

This situation also involves financial considerations: the expenditure of taxpayer money for land acquisition and compensation for residents may never fully cover their losses. In recent years, the district has developed, and people have invested in renovating their homes, installing utilities, and improving their plots, often taking out loans. No one warned them against doing so.

"We don't want our district, our oasis, to turn into a concrete jungle. We are all like family here. People have come. Most of us have gathered, and I think we will be heard. Because this is a common problem. I ask the akim to leave our district as it is," said Evgeny Kostandi.

The meeting proceeded peacefully. While the residents were clearly upset, they expressed no radical sentiments and remained open to dialogue with officials. However, only police officers were present from the local authorities, observing to ensure no laws were broken. Their presence seemed to be prompted by the attendance of journalists.

Local residents continue to appeal to the authorities. "Given the extensive experience of Darhan Satibaldy, the Akim of Almaty, in state and financial structures and regional management, we hope for an open, flexible policy in Almaty that balances the interests of property owners and construction companies," said Madina Razyeva, a local resident, explaining the expectations of her neighbors.

The editorial office has sent an inquiry to the Almaty Akimat regarding possible scenarios for the development of this situation.

It is worth recalling that two weeks prior, approximately 300 families in Almaty's Kairat microdistrict protested against the demolition of their homes for the construction of multi-story buildings. A collective petition from the residents emerged online, where they stated their rights were being violated and noted that many still had outstanding mortgage payments on the homes slated for demolition.

The Almaty City Department of Architecture and Urban Planning explained the situation by citing the city's rapid growth. They project that by 2040, the city's population could reach 3.6 million, which, they argue, necessitates uniform density in construction. Consequently, the department explained that the Kairat microdistrict area would be designated for the construction of multi-apartment residential buildings. Furthermore, authorities clarified that there would be no forced land acquisition, as the area is intended for private investors, and projects would be implemented through agreements with landowners.

The Department of Architecture and Urban Planning also noted that the city's potential for expansion is exhausted: Almaty cannot increase its territory due to its mountainous terrain. Therefore, the city administration plans to gradually rezone private construction areas in other parts of the metropolis for multi-apartment residential buildings.

Almaty Mayor Darhan Satibaldy has signed several decrees initiating the compulsory acquisition of land plots for state needs. A complete list of such addresses can be found via the provided link.

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