91��ý

In April 2026, the Faculty of International Relations hosted an event that many of us had been
anticipating with excitement and barely concealed enthusiasm - the Subject Olympiad in Criminal
Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Special Part). Two hours of intellectual competition, five
demanding case problems, and one goal: to prove that your year group is the strongest. As a
participant in this event, I would like to share my impressions.
The Olympiad was organized by Associate Professor of the Department of International Law, M.K.
Samaldykov (Candidate of Legal Sciences, retired Police Colonel), and brought together students
from the Russian-language stream of specialty 6В04201 "International Law" - two teams representing
the 2nd and 3rd years, with five participants each. The judging panel consisted of experienced senior
faculty members and young scholars: PhD Dr. A.E. Rysaldieva, Candidate of Legal Sciences D.V.
Tatarinov, Master of Laws M.E. Toktarbekova, and Master's student Sarvan Imanov. The composition
of the jury alone spoke to the serious approach taken toward the event.
The 2nd-year team comprised: Ainura Kalmurzaeva (captain), Luiza Eibova, Yasmina
Molotova, Darina Pirmatova, and Dilnaz Bakbergenova. The 3rd-year team was represented by:
Aisalkyn Amandyk (captain), Akzhan Assylzhanova, Sarra Bayanbay, Nursultan Tursynbayev, and
Tomiris Kambarova.
The Olympiad opened with a draw, which determined which team would tackle each
problem first. From the very first minutes, the atmosphere in the room called for full
concentration. Five rounds, five practical criminal law cases - each team member taking on
their own case. Notably, the facts of all the cases were modelled on real criminal cases drawn
from the law enforcement and judicial practice of the Republic of Kazakhstan. We were not
simply required to recall theory; we had to qualify specific criminal offences (crimes and
criminal misdemeanors), work with the elements of offences, distinguish between related
legal norms, and correctly apply the relevant regulatory legal acts, including normative
resolutions of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan. One of the problems
required drafting an official report, which added criminal procedural drafting skills to the
legal analysis.
A separate challenge was the captains' contest - a round testing theoretical knowledge in
which each captain represented the face of their team. Here, what mattered was not only knowledge,
but also diction, clarity of speech, confidence, and command of legal terminology.
The judges evaluated participants across several nomination categories. Diplomas for creative
approach to case resolution were awarded to Luiza Eibova and Nursultan Tursynbayev, as well as to
the 3rd-year team captain Aisalkyn Amandyk. Diplomas for best problem solutions were presented to
five participants: Darina Pirmatova, Ainura Kalmurzaeva, Dilnaz Bakbergenova, and Yasmina
Molotova (2nd-year students), and Tomiris Kambarova (3rd year). According to the jury, these
students made the most significant contributions to their teams' overall score. In the captains' contest,
victory went to Ainura Kalmurzaeva - captain of the 2nd-year team.
The final team score stood at 19 points for the 2nd-year team against 16 points for the
3rd-year team. Victory by a margin of three points was awarded to the 2nd-year team of the
"International Law" specialty.
Participating in the Olympiad proved to be a far more serious challenge than one might have
expected. Criminal law is a discipline that tolerates no approximations, and this was felt in every
round. Working through practical problems under competitive conditions exposes gaps in knowledge
where the material seemed already mastered, and compels more precise thinking.
As one jury member emphasized, every participant came away with their own victory,
regardless of the final score. This format, solving real-world cases in a competitive setting - has a
genuinely positive effect on students' professional development. Each participant left with experience
in legal qualification, the ability to construct arguments, and strengthened teamwork skills. It was also
proposed that next year the Olympiad be elevated to an inter-university level, inviting teams from
other universities in Almaty.
"An Olympiad of this kind is not merely a test of knowledge. It is an opportunity to come
closer to real legal practice while still within the walls of the university. I extend my sincere gratitude
to the organizer - Associate Professor M.K. Samaldykov - for creating a space in which studying
ceases to be abstract and takes on a professional dimension." - D.V. Tatarinov
Associate Professor, Department of International Law
M.K. Samaldykov
2nd-year Student, "International Law" specialty
L.Z. Eibova