A resident of Zhezkazgan, activist Assel Aitmagambetova, has been fined nearly half a million tenge for publishing videos in which she criticised the social and municipal situation in the Ulytau region. The court deemed Aitmagambetova's actions an administrative offence and the materials "damaging to the reputation of the akim".
According to ORDA, in May of this year, Aitmagambetova moved from Kostanay to Zhezkazgan. She was shocked by the state of the infrastructure and the standard of living in a city which, she claims, is considered one of the wealthiest in the country.
"The city seems to be stuck in the 19th century. The water is murky and doesn't go through the filters. People are getting infected, and there is no oncologist at all. There are also no roads. Everything is falling apart, as if after a war. I was fined for showing the truth about Zhezkazgan. <…> Unemployment, bribes for jobs — it's all there," said Aitmagambetova.
She began regularly posting videos on the social network TikTok, showing how the residents of Zhezkazgan live and what problems they face every day. In one of the videos, Assel showed the condition of the regional multi-speciality hospital.
"The laundry room is unsanitary. Everything is old, there is no heating — they've installed a thermal heater," says the video.
Under this video, the official account of the regional health department commented that capital repairs to the facility had already been planned: funds were allocated by the akimat and maslikhat of the Ulytau region, a contractor has been appointed, and work will begin on 1 June of this year.
According to Aitmagambetova, her criticism was primarily directed at the akim of the region, Dastan Rysbek. The activist stated that on 18 June, a police department employee called her and invited her for a "clarifying conversation", but she did not receive an official summons and refused to attend. According to Assel, on 19 June, the regional akim himself filed a complaint against her, after which the police initiated an administrative case.
Nine videos were sent for examination. After studying them, a psychological and philological examination concluded that the materials were aimed at discrediting the work of the akim, creating negative public opinion, and that certain statements damaged the honour and dignity of Dastan Rysbek. As a result, the Zhezkazgan court found Assel Aitmagambetova guilty and fined her 495,432 tenge.
"I criticised him as a public servant. But he couldn't take it — he didn't come to me, but immediately filed a complaint. The court was held within four days, and I was punished," commented Aitmagambetova.