Our People Abroad: Toktogul HPP Employee Left for a City with -40 Degree Frosts Due to Low Salary, and After Meeting a Native of Kazakhstan, His Affairs Took a Turn for the Better

Виктор Сизов • 29.12.2025, 11:24 • Society

Turmush continues to introduce readers to Kyrgyzstani people who have found their place beyond their homeland. In the spotlight is Timur Kelgenbaev, who has been living and working in Khanty-Mansiysk, the administrative center of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, for over two decades.

Timur, born on February 6, 1980, in Kara-Kul, Jalal-Abad region, has come a long way from a simple builder working in harsh freezing conditions to the owner of a successful business in the oil sector.

After graduating from Frunze Secondary School No. 3 and Jalal-Abad State University College with a degree in economics, he worked at the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station in 2002–2003. According to him, those times were tough: the salary was not enough to make ends meet, and many of his friends left for Russia in search of a better life. Inspired by their successes, he also decided to take this step and set off on December 28, 2003, leaving behind the New Year celebrations.

Arriving in Bishkek with a small amount of 10,000 soms, he quickly spent it on housing and food, not knowing how to move forward. In one of the neighborhoods of the city, he met fellow countrymen preparing to go to Russia, and borrowing 5,000 soms from them, he headed to Khanty-Mansiysk. Upon arriving on January 2, he faced a stark contrast: it was warm in Bishkek, while in Khanty-Mansiysk the frost reached -40 degrees. Seeing his acquaintances who were celebrating the New Year, they were surprised by his arrival.

Timur began working on construction sites, where the conditions were far from comfortable: he lived in trailers and faced difficulties related to a lack of money and deceit from employers. Despite this, he did not give up and continued to develop, learning new types of work from rough construction to European-style renovations.

His breakthrough came when acquaintances offered him the chance to work directly with clients, thanks to his knowledge of the Russian language. This allowed him to open his own company, which quickly began to generate profit. From the very first week, he earned 300,000 rubles, and then 500,000 rubles. At the time of his success, he was only 25 years old, and he began to change his life by buying cars and traveling the world.

However, the wise advice of a driver who worked for him, that money can disappear quickly, prompted him to invest in real estate. He purchased a plot in an abandoned area that later became elite. After building an office with a store, Timur began to receive income from rent.

But then changes occurred in construction, and he closed his company, focusing on rentals. During this time, he began fishing, where he met locals working in the oil sector, which ultimately led him to open a new company in this field.

Timur is married to a Russian woman who respects Kyrgyz traditions and has learned to cook national dishes. They have three daughters, the eldest of whom plays tennis and participates in international competitions. Timur also recalls how his dream of a trip to Egypt came true after opening his business. He emphasizes that his grandfather's advice about honesty and perseverance has always been a guiding star for him.

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