Bought in 1993, Seized in 2020: Kazakhstan’s Courts Uphold the Taking of Church Buildings

• An Almaty court upheld the seizure of New Life Protestant Church’s two buildings
• The church had bought the buildings in 1993
• In Nur-Sultan, the city is taking a church site for a kindergarten
• The city offered 307,100,709 Tenge; the churches say the land is worth more

Courts in Kazakhstan have upheld the seizure of property from two Protestant congregations, Eurasia Review reported on September 28, 2020, republishing Forum 18.

New Life Protestant Church in Almaty bought two adjoining buildings in Turksib District on February 4, 1993. On September 17, 2020, Almaty City Court upheld an order to seize them, following the 2019 conviction of three former pastors. “Some of the 15 people being helped live in the houses. If the authorities seize the houses, they’d be put on the street,” said Pastor Ivan Kryukov.

In Nur-Sultan, Grace Presbyterian Church and Agape Pentecostal Church share a building bought on September 3, 2001, on 0.136 hectares of land. The city wants the site for a kindergarten. On September 7, 2020, the Specialist Inter-District Economic Court rejected the churches’ challenge. The city offered 307,100,709 Tenge, but the churches say the market value is significantly higher.

Both congregations face losing buildings they bought and have used for many years.

Compulsory acquisition happens in Jamaica too, for roads and public projects, and the key issue is usually fair compensation. The Nur-Sultan case shows why churches should know the market value of their property and keep evidence of improvements. If the state does take church land, an independent valuation gives the congregation the best chance of a fair price.

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