In Almaty, more than 500 families were left without electricity and water due to a multi-million tenge debt of a residential complex. People claim they paid their utility bills regularly. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Utility workers completely cut off power to two 18-story business-class buildings near the center of Almaty. Along with the electricity, water disappeared in the apartments, and elevators stopped. The owners learned about the debt to the electricity supplier in the amount of 34 million tenge only after the disconnection.

"There is no light, no gas, no water – you can't wash a child. For example, I live on the 12th floor myself, it's very hard for me to climb with a stroller. I work online, so this also affects my productivity," said Gulnur Zhumabayeva, a resident of the complex.

The complex was commissioned two years ago. The electricity was cut off early in the morning, so residents did not even have time to stock up on water. Parents with many children had to climb to the upper floors with small children and strollers using the stairs.

"It's impossible to just go down or up without electricity. You saw for yourself how I climbed, how hard it is with a little one. Moreover, there are no helpers," said resident Fatiya Tatarova.

Apartment owners said they transferred money for utilities not directly to the supplier, but to the management company. Now people demand an explanation as to why the funds did not reach the energy workers.

"We turned out to be hostages between the economic conflict between the developer and the management company. Let them sort it out in court. Courts don't proceed that quickly. They can last for years. Give us light!" said resident Rakhilya Kurbaniyazova.

The director of the management company, Amir Nurgozhanov, said that the organization is engaged in maintaining common property. According to him, the developer stopped paying for the services provided. At the same time, the head could not explain where the money transferred by the residents is.

– The developer stopped paying for our services – do you understand?

– And you decided to keep the residents' money for yourself?

– Not exactly. There, it turns out, we went to court. We already won by a court decision.

Residents want to open individual personal accounts and pay the electricity supplier directly. A representative of the construction company said that the developer is engaged in transferring the houses to the city's balance sheet.

"To open personal accounts, around 70-80% is needed so that residents are already settled. To open personal accounts. During this period, this percentage was not there. Plus there were some defects in the external networks, they have now been fixed. We are engaged in the transfer," said Rauan Barimbekov, a representative of the construction company.

Alatau Zharyk Company stated its readiness to open personal accounts for the owners. However, first the developer must fully repay the debt in the amount of 34 million tenge.

"Since payments from them are not received in a timely manner, these are already extreme measures. We are waiting for the developer to fully repay the debt," said Gulshad Temirtekova, deputy head of the district energy sales department of the Alatau Zharyk Company branch.

Residents demand the return of electricity and the resolution of debts without their participation. When the power supply will be restored is still unknown.