An internal investigation has been launched by the Almaty police department following a public complaint about the actions of law enforcement officers, according to infohub.kz.
Kazakh citizen Andrei Bekkuzarov posted a video on his Threads social media page showing police officers searching his bag. According to the author, the incident occurred on Monday, August 17, at approximately 20:42 on Inzhenernaya Street in Almaty. The man and his friend were waiting for a taxi when two police officers approached them. Without identifying themselves, they began shining a flashlight in their faces and demanded they empty their pockets, ignoring established procedures.
Shortly after, a third officer arrived and, without witnesses or video recording, manually inspected the contents of the complainant's bag. When asked about the reason for the search, the officers replied that the citizens "looked suspicious standing in a dark alley." The officer's identity was only revealed after the search, but no clear explanation was provided. In his post, Bekkuzarov sarcastically remarked: "These guys have 'such a job,' we need to be understanding."
The press service of the Almaty police department commented on the situation. The official response states that on August 17, while patrolling the Medeu district, officers noticed two citizens whose behavior raised suspicion, prompting a check. During the search, no prohibited items or substances were found, and no administrative or criminal measures were taken. Nevertheless, an internal investigation has been ordered into the officers' actions, and appropriate measures will be taken based on its results.