Law enforcement officers in the Kostanay region of Kazakhstan detained a local resident who distributed a video about a “conflict” between Russian and Kazakh border guards, the regional police press service reported.
Previously, a video showing people in military uniform and military equipment was distributed on social networks. The voice-over stated that there was a conflict between Russian and Kazakh military in the Kostanay region, and equipment is currently being deployed there. The police emphasize that the video is fake.
“Police officers of the Kostanay region, during operational search activities, identified and detained a 52-year-old resident of the city of Kostanay. He admitted his guilt in committing an intentional act,” the message says.
Law enforcement agencies also announced the start of a pre-trial investigation under the article “Dissemination of knowingly false information using the media or telecommunications networks” of the Criminal Code of the Republic.
Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs denied reports that were distributed on social networks. The department indicated that the video shows a convoy of vehicles of the National Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan heading for scheduled field training.
In recent years, the number of cases under articles of separatism against residents of Northern Kazakhstan has increased, and after the start of the war in Ukraine, the Kazakh authorities began to closely monitor separatist sentiments in the region, especially against the backdrop of statements by Russian officials and propagandists about the “return” of territories:
Last year, two residents of Uralsk, Denis Rudnykh and Kristina Kolchenko, received real sentences under the article on separatism. The reason for the case was that in February 2023 they supported Russia in the war against Ukraine on social networks.
