Witness in Uldana Myrzuan Case: 'I Thought the Whole Building Was Falling'

In the trial over the death of Uldana Myrzuan, a witness testified about the condition of the building and the tragedy. Zhanibek Baimukanov, who has lived in the building since 2019, said that during a renovation, liquid flooring "literally leaked to the neighbor downstairs," and he thought he had simply flooded the neighbor, not suspecting structural issues. He added that there were frequent problems with pipes, leading to water shutoffs throughout the building, reports infohub.kz.

Baimukanov noted that the current work of the head of the condominium association (OSI), Zhubaniyazova, who is accused in the case, was carried out without complaints. Before her appointment, he was offered the position but declined, believing that they chose people with less construction expertise. "I saw that Zhubaniyazova conducted inspections, did routine work, replaced tiles in the entrance, and fixed the electrical panels. I personally had no complaints or grievances about her work," the witness added.

The man stressed that the building is now in a dire state, with residents living "like on a powder keg," fearing for their safety. He confirmed that apartment owners had sent collective letters to the akimat, GASK, and other state bodies. Baimukanov also witnessed the tragedy when he went out for a walk with his children. "I went out and saw a cloud of dust, there was a roar, I thought it was an explosion. I moved the children aside to keep them safe and ran to see what was happening. I approached from the corner, there was a cloud of dust, nothing was visible. I heard people moaning and thought to help. I looked up—debris from the facade was still falling. Everyone talks about one air conditioner, but there were four on the building," he recounted.

The witness explained that he did not run to the scene, fearing falling bricks, but saw a young man pulling out victims. He shouted to call an ambulance, and a neighbor said it had already been called. As he walked around the building, a second collapse occurred 5-10 minutes later. "I thought the whole building was falling, so I called my wife to come out. By then, emergency services, police, and a second ambulance had arrived. We stood nearby but did not approach the building and watched," Baimukanov concluded. He also added that he had frequently used the passage where the tragedy occurred.