Zamanbek Nurkadilov

Zamanbek Nurkadilov served as the first akim of Almaty from 1992 to 1994, known for his controversial proposals such as the construction of a new airport and a campaign encouraging citizens to donate personal jewelry to the state. His tenure ended tragically when he was found dead in 2005, a case officially ruled as suicide, which overshadowed his earlier criticisms of the government.