On November 5, 2026, an international conference on combating cybercrime was held in Astana, organized by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Interpol. The event brought together representatives from 27 foreign countries, international organizations, and experts in digital security.
During the conference, Kazakhstan proposed establishing a UNODC Regional Center for Combating Cybercrime in Astana, with its activities expected to cover the Eurasian region.
What results did Kazakhstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs report?
According to the ministry, joint efforts with foreign law enforcement agencies have achieved the following results:
-
Dozens of fraudulent call centers have been dismantled, including those operating outside Kazakhstan.
-
Stolen funds totaling 3.5 billion tenge have been frozen.
-
A total of 5.6 billion tenge has been returned to victims.
-
The number of online fraud cases in Kazakhstan has decreased by 21% over the past two years.
Why is international cooperation necessary?
Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov emphasized that modern criminal groups actively use artificial intelligence, voice and image manipulation technologies, cryptocurrencies, and anonymous digital platforms.
Fraudsters, their victims, and stolen funds are often located in different countries, making joint international investigations and rapid information exchange essential.
What decisions were made?
Conference participants adopted a Joint Statement aimed at strengthening cooperation between law enforcement agencies, facilitating the exchange of electronic evidence, developing joint investigations, and improving professional training.
The participants also discussed the establishment of a UN Regional Center that could analyze cyber threats, identify transnational criminal networks, and improve the qualifications of law enforcement specialists.
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and UNODC are currently working together to develop the concept for the proposed center.
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
