Russian authorities have started to summon individuals who procured bank cards remotely from Kazakhstan, according to media reports on Friday citing unnamed sources.

Several holders of these cards communicated to the Ostorozhno Novosti Telegram channel that law enforcement had notified them about an active inquiry taking place in Kazakhstan. Reports indicate that the Russian Interior Ministry is currently investigating over “1,000” Russian citizens who possess Kazakh bank cards.

Neither the governments of Kazakhstan nor Russia have made any official statements regarding the ongoing investigation.

The demand for remote applications for Kazakh bank cards significantly increased after Visa and Mastercard exited the Russian market in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Kazakh officials estimate that between 2022 and 2024, as many as 700,000 Russians were issued payment cards from Kazakh banks.

However, Kazakhstan implemented a ban on the remote issuance of individual identification numbers starting in January 2025, in response to pressure from Western nations. These identification numbers are essential for obtaining bank cards.

Additionally, major banks in Kazakhstan have halted the issuance of debit cards to non-residents or limited their validity to a period of up to 12 months.

Ostorozhno Novosti reported that despite the ban, Russians can still obtain individual identification numbers through intermediaries or facilitators in Kazakhstan, indicating that the ongoing criminal investigation might be directed at these individuals.

Kazakh financial regulators have stated that over 90% of the cardholders involved in alleged money laundering activities are non-residents, and they have shared this information with foreign law enforcement agencies.