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Tengrinews.kz – Russian citizens have begun receiving summonses for questioning over remotely issued Kazakhstani bank cards, according to the Telegram channel “Ostorozhno, Novosti.”
What happened
Since January 1, 2025, Kazakhstan suspended the online issuance of Individual Identification Numbers (IINs) to foreign nationals and tightened the rules for issuing bank cards. The Kazakh Embassy in Russia also stopped issuing IINs to foreigners.
However, despite the official ban, some intermediaries continued offering the service, leading to a surge in demand. By the end of the year, many IINs issued after the ban were annulled.
Interrogation of Russian citizens
Since early September, Russian citizens who had remotely obtained Kazakhstani bank cards began receiving police summonses for questioning.
According to sources, over a thousand people may be under scrutiny. These individuals obtained cards remotely — a service offered since 2023 by specialized platforms and major Russian banks. To receive a card, users had to get an IIN and send passport data and applications via intermediaries.
Now, Russian citizens who obtained IINs and bank cards are being called by the police and invited for questioning. Some have been told criminal cases have been initiated in Kazakhstan, though there is no official confirmation of any investigation yet.
It is suggested that the questioning may be linked to criminal cases against Kazakh workers who helped issue IINs.
