Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is reported to have ‘frozen’ a long-planned project to build a large ski resort at Kok-Zhaylau.

The ski resort, reported to be a pet-project of Tokayev’s predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ran the country for nearly 29 years between independence in 1990 and his resignation in March this year.

The project has been mired in controversy for many years with accusations of corruption in the tendering and land purchase process as well as reported widespread public concern about its potential environmental impact.

The resort was due to use parts of the pristine Ile-Alatau national park with the creation of an ‘Alpine style” base village, more than 60km of piste and 16 lifts.