Defended Consumer Rights, Amounting to 690 Million Tenge, Asserted by Ministry of Trade within a 4-Month Period
From January to April 2025, Kazakhstan's territorial departments of trade and consumer protection, under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Integration, successfully protected the rights of citizens to the tune of 690.5 million tenge. This achievement was attained through systematic and targeted work, particularly in resolving 34 high-profile cases that benefited 122 consumers, who collectively received a refund of 461.9 million tenge.
Notable instances include a consumer in Almaty, who bought an apartment with construction defects, receiving a refund of 25.9 million tenge, and another consumer in Nur-Sultan, who purchased a premium-class car with a steering system defect, receiving a refund of 45.8 million tenge. Among the 21 car-related cases, a total of 338.2 million tenge was refunded. Consumers in the Pavlodar region received 53.8 million tenge, while one in Kyzylorda received 6.4 million tenge for faulty gaming equipment.
Group complaints received special attention. For instance, 17 consumers in the Pavlodar region were refunded 9.1 million tenge after being granted loans for cosmetics without full disclosure. In the Turkestan, Zhambyl regions, and Shymkent, 33 people successfully claimed 7.5 million tenge - including refunds for faulty massage pads, household appliances, and unconfirmed bookings at sanatoriums. In Shymkent, five consumers received 1.3 million tenge for products that did not meet stated specifications, and 1 million tenge was refunded in the Saryagash district for unprovided tourist services.
Certain cases were resolved in court, such as a lawsuit over unfulfilled smartphone deliveries in the Jetisu region, where the court ordered a refund of 7.2 million tenge to 17 consumers, with nine receiving their money even before the case was closed. A dispute over unfulfilled service obligations was resolved through mediation in the Pavlodar region, with 12 consumers receiving 900,000 tenge.
The four-month results underscore the continued strengthening of the territorial departments of the Ministry of Trade in protecting consumer interests. From addressing high-value disputes to mass cases, these instances demonstrate that consumer rights protection in Kazakhstan is evolving from a formality to a practical tool for restoring justice.
In comparison, Azerbaijan reported refunding over 55.9 million manat ($32.8 million) to consumers under its VAT Refund program between January and April 2025. However, official or media-reported data on the total amount of consumer refunds in Kazakhstan for the same period remains unavailable. Existing information focuses on general market trends, regulatory enforcement, and the performance of specific industries, rather than consumer refunds or sector-specific refund case studies.
In the context of consumer protection efforts, a business in Nur-Sultan refunded 45.8 million tenge to a consumer who purchased a premium-class car with a steering system defect, showcasing the finance sector's role in rectifying issues. Meanwhile, group complaints in Pavlodar, Turkestan, Zhambyl regions, and Shymkent received a total refund of 16.6 million tenge, highlighting the significance of addressing finance matters in various consumer protection cases.
