Kazakhstan's Budget Crisis: Holding Regional Leaders Accountable

Kazakhstan: Regional Leaders Face Accountability for Budget Shortfalls NUR-SULTAN, June 2, 2025 — A call for greater accountability has been issued regarding declining local budget revenues in several regions of Kazakhstan. Deputy Bakytzhan Bazarbek of the Majilis (the lower house of parliament) stated that regional leaders should be held responsible for the shortfall. "We will continue to support them until when?", Bazarbek questioned the current system. The report highlights the substantial dependence of certain regions on the national budget. For instance, Zhezkazgan region shows a 71% dependence, while Turkestan region is at 79%. This reliance, Bazarbek stressed, is increasing. These regions also have the lowest income levels, ranging from 17% to 23%. The situation worsened when Mangystau region shifted from a donor to a recipient region in 2023, with budget needs rising by 87% (37 billion tenge). Bazarbek's statement underscores the need for a more sustainable approach to regional budgeting, ensuring financial responsibility at the local level. The government is working on new strategies to address this issue.