The Turkestan region is preparing for a new akim: what legacy does Darkhan Satybaldy leave behind?

The official has been involved in various scandals multiple times. In June 2023, a video surfaced on social media showing children complaining about poor food quality and inadequate conditions in private children's camps. In response, Satybaldy stated that the inspections conducted found no violations. Such statements sparked dissatisfaction among parents.

Another contentious issue was the involvement of the akim's relatives in business activities. Journalists raised concerns that companies owned by his brothers, such as Fitness Palace, Nomad Stroy Company, and SAT-NS, are suspected of tax evasion. Satybaldy explained that his brothers have been in business since the 1990s and agreed with him not to participate in tenders in the Turkestan region.

Additionally, a video featuring farmers kneeling and addressing Satybaldy as "Oh, my Khan!" became a source of jokes and criticism. He clarified that at the time of the video recording, he was in a meeting, and the farmers were demanding a meeting with him due to a sharp drop in cotton prices. Subsequently, he held negotiations with processing companies, which agreed to increase the advance payment for raw materials, but the situation left a lingering negative impression among local residents.

In November 2024, media reported a high rate of crimes against children in the Turkestan region. Satybaldy stated that the region ranks only seventh in these indicators and emphasized that such cases occur in all regions of the country. Nevertheless, the public's attention to this issue raised new questions about the state of social security in the region.

On January 6, 2025, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, appointed Darkhan Satybaldy as the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration.