Public Monitoring Result: Working Group on Digitalization Created in WKR
January 14, 2026 | Uralsk, West Kazakhstan Region
In 2023, the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted the Law "On Public Control," which provided citizens with a tool for participating in state governance. However, in practice, its provisions are almost never applied and remain unknown to the majority of the local population.
To change the situation, the "Ashyk Kogam" Public Foundation on October 23, 2025 conducted public monitoring of the activities of the State Institution "Department of Digital Technologies of West Kazakhstan Region." The goal was to demonstrate how the law works in practice in the format of remote monitoring (without visiting the object of public control).
Subject of Monitoring
In October 2025, the Foundation conducted public monitoring of the State Institution "Department of Digital Technologies of West Kazakhstan Region" in accordance with Article 9 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Public Control" using information from the Department's official website.
The subject of public monitoring was the absence of information on the Department's official website about the public IT Council of West Kazakhstan Region under the Akim of WKR or the Akim of Uralsk city.
Legal Assessment
Article 1 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Public Control" establishes the right of citizens to participate in state governance. Article 33 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan guarantees citizens the right to participate in state governance directly and through their representatives.
The absence of a public IT Council or information about it limits the opportunities for the business community, educational institutions, and civil society to participate in shaping the region's digitalization policy.
This contradicts the principles of open government and creates unequal conditions for public participation in the digitalization of Kazakhstan's regions.
Foundation's Recommendations
On October 17, 2025, the Foundation sent the Department a final document of public monitoring containing recommendations:
- Create a public IT Council under the Akim of West Kazakhstan Region using the successful experience of Almaty city
- Approve regulatory documents: Regulations on the IT Council, procedure for forming the composition, work plan
- Ensure information transparency by placing an IT Council section on the Department's official website
- Ensure regular activities of the IT Council with meetings held at least once per quarter
- Set implementation deadlines: working group creation — 15 days, document approval — 30 days
Monitoring Result
Main Result
After receiving a response to the final document, sending clarifying questions, and holding a meeting with the extended staff of the Department, on January 14, 2026, the Akim of West Kazakhstan Region N.T. Turegaliyev issued an order to create a working group on the development of a "smart" city.
Working Group Composition
The working group's activities are aimed at developing solutions for implementing a unified digitalization policy in the interests of the region's residents and its development, as well as supporting the development of entrepreneurship in information technology.
The working group includes 9 people:
- Head of the WKR Akim's Office Nurdilda Oraz Serikuly
- Head of WKR Digital Technologies Department Kamashev Nurgisa Malikovich
- Head of WKR Finance Department Yesengaliyev Nurlan Mukhitovich
- Head of State Institution "Information Technology Center" Sultangaliev Makhambet Amantayevich
- Freelance Adviser to WKR Akim on Digitalization Bekbolat Nurgali
- Deputy of WKR Regional Maslikhat Bayakhov Alibi Naukhanovich
- Chairman of West Kazakhstan Region IT Association Melnikov Ivan Viktorovich
- Director of the Innovative Technology Park branch (Batys Hub) Kassymova Assel Galimovna
- Executive Director of "Ashyk Kogam" Social Development and Innovation Fund Satybaldin Ruslan Bauyrzhanovich
Significance for Regional Development
The creation of a working group on smart city development was the result of constructive dialogue between civil society and government agencies. This demonstrates the effectiveness of public control mechanisms and opens new opportunities for citizen participation in shaping the region's digitalization policy.
Achievement
This case shows that the Law "On Public Control" can work in practice and bring real results for regional development and improving the quality of public administration.