NUR-SULTAN -- A large stake in Kazakhstan's communications monopoly, Kazakhtelecom, owned by former President Nursultan Nazarbaev's nephew has been seized by the government.
The government said on April 12 that the almost 25 percent stake in Kazakhtelecom controlled by the Skyline Investment Company was nationalized, but provided no explanation beyond that.
The Skyline Investment Company was co-founded and controlled by Qairat Satybaldy, Nazarbaev's nephew, who was arrested last month on charges of embezzlement and abuse of power.
The government' statement on April 12 also said the almost 4 percent stake in Kazakhtelecom controlled by the Alatau Capital Investment company was also taken over by the government.
The announcement comes as President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev continues to broadens his power following the removal of Nazarbaev and his clan from the tightly controlled oil-rich country's political scene following the unprecedented anti-government protests in January.
Nazarbayev, 81, resigned as president in 2019, picking longtime ally Toqaev as his successor.
But he retained sweeping powers as the head of the Security Council, enjoying almost limitless powers as "elbasy" -- the leader of the Central Asian nation.
Meanwhile, many of his relatives continued to hold important posts in the government, security agencies, and profitable energy groups.
In January, protests that started over a fuel-price hike spread across Kazakhstan because of discontent over the cronyism that had long plagued the country. Toqaev subsequently stripped Nazarbaev of his Security Council role, taking it over himself.
Just days after the protests, Nazarbaev's two sons-in-law, Qairat Sharipbaev and Dimash Dosanov, were pushed out of top jobs at two major state companies, QazaqGaz and KazTransOil, respectively.
Sharipbaev is widely known to be married to Nazarbaev's eldest daughter, Darigha. Dosanov is the husband of Nazarbaev's youngest daughter, Alia.
The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Atameken, announced the resignation of its chairman, Timur Kulibaev, who is also Nazarbaev's son-in-law.
In late February, Darigha Nazarbaeva said that she was giving up her parliamentary seat.
Toqaev has said publicly he wants Nazarbaev's associates to share their wealth with the public by making regular donations to a new charity foundation.