Kazakhstani officials have received various gifts from fellow countrymen, including paintings, statuettes, vases, handmade carpets, iPhones and even Validol pills, a sedative that relieves pain and nervous tension. The law requires civil servants to hand these gifts to a state fund, which then sells them at auction. In this article, Kursiv.media explores the items officials have handed over for auction.
The Committee of State Property and Privatization of the Ministry of Finance recently disclosed the types of gifts civil servants received over the past six years.
The list includes a painting featuring a gorilla and a bottle of Sauvignon de Purcari wine, both of which were auctioned in 2017. Initially, the state sought KZT13,000 (about $26 at the current exchange rate, USD1 = KZT495.2) for the items, but there were no buyers. It wasn’t until the eighth attempt that the gifts finally sold for KZT2,653 (approximately $5).
In 2020, an official received an iPhone 12 Pro as a gift, valued at KZT617,991 ($1,500 at the then average exchange rate, USD1 = KZT412.95). The smartphone was sold on the third attempt for KZT464,000 ($1,120).
Similarly, in 2024, an iPhone 14 Pro, estimated at KZT575,000 ($1,150), was gifted to another official. At auction, it sold for KZT390,000 ($780), despite having a starting price of KZT1.7 million ($3,400).
Typically, gifts sell at auction for significantly less than their estimated value. For example, a Michael Kors bag gifted to a civil servant in 2023 was valued at KZT77,000 ($150) but was initially listed for KZT230,000 ($460). It eventually was sold for just KZT45,000 ($90).
A «puma-shaped crystal souvenir» was valued at KZT40,000 ($80) but sold for KZT18,000 ($36).
Chanel and Tom Ford perfumes also went for half their estimated prices, selling at KZT50,000 instead of KZT100,000.
Not all gifts are suitable for auction. In 2021, a public servant received a pack of Validol pills, which were not put up for sale.
Kazakhstanis often choose to gift food to officials. Examples include homemade pickled mushrooms in a plastic bucket, raspberry jam, boxes of cookies, assorted chocolates, candies and even chocolate-covered strawberries.
Flowers are also a common gift. In 2019, an official received a bouquet of lilies; in 2020, a potted plant was gifted; and this year, a bouquet of roses was presented.
All of these gifts were eventually destroyed.
People also attempt to «dress» civil servants in traditional attire. In 2023, for instance, an official received a jacket featuring a Kazakh pattern and a skullcap. While the estimated value was nearly KZT15,000, the items were sold for just KZT5,000 at auction. The starting price had been KZT44,000.
Books are another popular gift for officials, often accompanied by other items. In 2024, a civil servant received the Kazakh edition of «Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty,» along with a diary, a thermos, a horse statuette and a figure of the Golden Man. Together, these items were valued at KZT65,000 but sold for just KZT11,000, far below the starting auction price of KZT195,000.
This year, an official received a Kazakh translation of a biography of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Although it was valued at KZT3,700, it was sold at auction for KZT4,000.
In 2022, an official received several books, including «The Prince» by Niccolò Machiavelli, «Thus Spoke Zarathustra» by Friedrich Nietzsche and a collection of Aristotle’s works, along with a pen inscribed with «QAZAQSTAN.»
These four items were initially valued at KZT59,000, but after four attempts, they were sold for only KZT4,200, despite a starting auction price of KZT178,000.
Civil servants can repurchase their gifts without going through an auction, but this option is rarely exercised.
In 2022, one official received a fire extinguisher valued at KZT10,500, which he repurchased for KZT10,000. In 2023, another civil servant bought back a handmade carpet titled «Khoja Ahmed Yasawi» for KZT28,000.
Some officials show personal interest in specific gifts. One purchased a «Muslim painting with an inscription in Arabic» for KZT5,000. At the same time, another official paid KZT4,000 for a plaster statuette of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, a notable Kazakh military officer and writer, despite the statuette being «slightly damaged.»
Potential penalties for gifting officials
The Committee of State Property reports that Kazakhstani officials turn over about 300 gifts annually, with an estimated value of KZT2 million to KZT3 million ($4,000 to $6,000). However, these items typically sell at auction for only around KZT1.2 million.
Under current regulations, if a gift exceeds the value of two monthly calculated indices (KZT7,384 or $14), citizens may face fines of approximately KZT738,000 ($1,480), while civil servants who accept such gifts are subject to penalties of up to KZT2.2 million.
In response to an inquiry from Kursiv.media, Kazakhstan’s anti-corruption agency revealed that between 2022 and 2024, 131 individuals were penalized for giving gifts to civil servants. Meanwhile, only 19 civil servants were punished for accepting such gifts. The remaining 112 officials likely complied with the law by handing over their gifts to the state fund.
Earlier, Kursiv.media reported that the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan does not plan to increase the salaries of civil servants.
