"I Had No Intention to Show Off": Deputy Who Scattered Millions at Betashar in Aktobe Punished

Aktobe city maslikhat deputy Aslan Kairgaliev, who was seen counting stacks of money at a betashar ceremony, has been disciplined. Due to the incident that sparked heated discussions on social media, the deputy received a reprimand, reports Todayinfo.kz. Aktobe city maslikhat deputy Aslan Kairgaliev was punished over a video from a wedding. The footage shows him counting stacks of money at a betashar ceremony in public view. Netizens immediately recognized him. It is known that Kairgaliev is not only a deputy but also the son of the akim. Later, he admitted that his action was inappropriate. This video was first published on the Instagram page of the restaurant where the wedding took place. Later, local public pages began to spread it. Some considered it a normal part of Kazakh tradition, while others criticized it as empty boasting. Social media users noted that Kairgaliev was not just a guest but a deputy and the son of the akim. After the online discussion, the incident was referred to the commission on deputy ethics. The inspection took place on April 20. As a result, Kairgaliev received a disciplinary penalty in the form of a "reprimand."

"In accordance with the decision of the commission on deputy ethics of the Aktobe city maslikhat, deputy Aslan Kairgaliev has been issued a reprimand. The commission thoroughly reviewed the video recordings published on Instagram and made this decision taking into account the opinions of all members," said maslikhat chairwoman Anar Darzhanova.

Aslan Kairgaliev said that it was the wedding of his childhood friend. The 4 million tenge was collected jointly by friends. He, as the friend of the groom, was tasked with presenting the gift. The deputy admitted that the way he presented the gift indeed looked inappropriate. "Now I realize that the moment I was counting the money looked indecent. I had no intention to show off; it was just under the influence of emotions," he said. Additionally, Kairgaliev stated that he agrees with the criticism and will not repeat such an action.