Designed by Freepik
Kazakhstan's Economic Investigation Service plans to launch a special register of individuals and organizations involved in economic crimes. This new function is provided for by the Law "On Crime Prevention," adopted at the end of 2025. Information about companies will be published on the agency's website so that citizens and entrepreneurs can check potential partners and investment projects in advance.
What the Register of Suspicious Companies Is
The list is intended to include information about legal entities involved in criminal cases related to economic offenses. This may include companies, non-profit organizations, foundations, or associations under investigation for illegal entrepreneurship, financial fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, and certain types of business fraud.
What Information Will Become Public
The Economic Investigation Service website will publish:
Information about individuals will remain in an internal database with restricted access. Only government agencies and financial monitoring entities will be able to obtain such information.
- the company name;
- the article under which the criminal case is being investigated;
- dates of case registration and procedural decisions.
Information about individuals will remain in an internal database with restricted access. Only government agencies and financial monitoring entities will be able to obtain such information.
Grounds for Inclusion and Exclusion from the Register
Grounds for inclusion may include:
Exclusion from the register is possible in the event of:
In some cases, information may be removed three years after the termination of criminal prosecution.
- the person being recognized as a suspect or accused;
- a conviction that has entered into legal force;
- termination of a criminal case on non-rehabilitating grounds (amnesty, reconciliation of parties, expiration of the statute of limitations, etc.).
Exclusion from the register is possible in the event of:
- termination of the criminal case on rehabilitating grounds;
- expungement or removal of a criminal record;
- a court decision or decision by the Financial Monitoring Agency.
In some cases, information may be removed three years after the termination of criminal prosecution.
Why This Matters for Your Business
The public register is a preventive tool rather than one with direct legal consequences. However, its introduction changes the rules of the game for all market participants:
- partner transparency — it is now possible to check a company before entering into a transaction;
- reputational risks — being listed in the register may deter clients, investors, and partners;
- financing challenges — banks and financial institutions may intensify their scrutiny;
- need for proactive protection — it is important to promptly confirm the legitimacy of your business.
What to Do to Protect Your Business
With the introduction of a public register, companies should:
- vet counterparties for signs of economic offenses;
- maintain a transparent business structure and document the reality of transactions;
- respond promptly to inquiries from government agencies;
- seek professional advice to mitigate risks if issues arise.
How Acsour Can Help
Acsour experts are ready to:
The state is strengthening its oversight of economic offenses and making information about dishonest market participants public. How quickly you adapt your processes to the new reality will affect your business's security, reputation, and the trust of your partners.
Contact us — we will help you establish a reliable system for vetting counterparties and protect your business from reputational and financial risks.
- conduct counterparty audits and assess the risks of engaging with them;
- help establish a compliance system to reduce the likelihood of being listed in the register;
- advise on reputation protection and risk mitigation.
The state is strengthening its oversight of economic offenses and making information about dishonest market participants public. How quickly you adapt your processes to the new reality will affect your business's security, reputation, and the trust of your partners.
Contact us — we will help you establish a reliable system for vetting counterparties and protect your business from reputational and financial risks.