Almaty police have offered an official explanation for the mass detentions that unexpectedly brought Halloween in the city to a close, saying the operation was a series of preventive patrols rather than a ban on the holiday, infohub.kz reports.
Footage from the scene was published by the Egov.press Telegram channel. "Halloween in Almaty began with young people in colorful costumes on Arbat and unexpectedly ended with mass detentions by police," the post said. The video shows a large crowd gathered near a police station on Zhibek Zholy Street.
A correspondent for NUR.KZ was told by the press service of the Almaty Police Department that officers from the Almaly district were carrying out preventive measures aimed at maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of citizens.
"The police do not obstruct holiday events, mass recreation or leisure activities for city residents. At the same time, the main task of law enforcement is to ensure the safety of everyone in public spaces and to prevent offenses and possible incidents," the department stressed.
Police noted that special attention during the patrols was given to minors. In the Arbat pedestrian zone, 28 teenagers were identified as being out at night without their legal guardians. Administrative files were opened against their parents.
"We remind you that under the law, minors are prohibited from being outside their homes without a legal guardian between 23:00 and 6:00. We urge parents to take a responsible approach to organizing their children's leisure time, to take an interest in where they are and who they spend time with, especially in the evening and at night. Children's safety is a shared responsibility. The police's preventive work is aimed primarily at preventing offenses, protecting minors and ensuring the peace of residents and guests of the city," the press service of the Police Department said.