A resident of Karaganda, Anna Zakharova, put up for sale a watch gifted to her by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, but later changed her mind after public condemnation and numerous user comments. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Earlier, the woman valued the memorable gift at 2.9 million tenge and stated she was ready to consider reasonable bargaining. According to Zakharova, she received the watch in 2023 during a meeting with the president. At that time, she gave Tokayev a one-and-a-half-month-old puppy of the Tazy breed, and in return received a watch with the signature of the head of state.
In the advertisement, Zakharova noted that she did not plan to wear the watch and believed it could interest collectors. Along with the gift, the buyer was promised supporting documents.
Later, the woman deleted the advertisement and explained her decision by the reaction of users.
"Many reminded me that there are things whose value cannot be measured solely in monetary terms," Zakharova wrote on Threads.
According to her, after the comments she reconsidered her attitude towards the gift and came to the conclusion that the memory of the meeting with the president is more important to her than possible proceeds.
"I realized that years later, it is the memories of this event that will matter much more to me than any amount that could be obtained from the sale," she noted.
As a result, Zakharova decided to keep the watch and called the initial decision to sell too practical.
"Today I am sure that it will be right to keep these watches. Let them stay with me as a memory of an important event, of a meeting with the head of state, and of a moment that will never repeat in exactly the same form," the woman wrote.
In conclusion, she added that she came to a simple conclusion: "memory is indeed more expensive than money."