On 14 August 2025, two important events aimed at improving legal literacy among the public and preventing drug addiction among young people took place in Karaganda. A meeting involving members of ‘Zhasyl el’ was held in the city's Central Park, while a Legal Culture Fair unfolded in the ‘Tair’ shopping district. Both events were organised with the support of the regional akimat and the police department.
DRUG PREVENTION IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The meeting in Central Park was dedicated to the topical issue of ‘New types of drugs and the problem of drug addiction among young people’. The event was organised by the Youth Resource Centre of Karaganda City in cooperation with the regional police department.
The main speaker was the senior operative officer of the department for combating drug crime, police lieutenant colonel Bakhytzhan Mustafayev. He spoke in detail about new types of narcotic substances, their destructive effects on the body, and the legal consequences of their use.
‘Today, the number of synthetic drugs is growing rapidly. They are odourless, often unnoticeable, but extremely dangerous. We must speak openly to young people about the risks they pose. Every young person should think about both their health and the law,’ emphasised Lieutenant Colonel Mustafayev.
Officers from the canine unit also took part in the event, demonstrating methods of using service dogs in the fight against drug crime. The meeting was held in an interactive format: young people actively asked questions to the specialists and received detailed answers.
LEGAL FAIR AS A PLATFORM FOR DIALOGUE
At the same time, a Legal Culture Fair was held in the ‘Tair’ shopping district, taking the format of a public consultation. The event served as an open platform for dialogue between residents and representatives of law enforcement agencies.
Visitors received advice on key legal provisions and found answers to their pressing questions. Particular attention was paid to explaining measures for the prevention of offences and the liability for committing illegal acts.
‘It is encouraging to see the activity and interest of citizens in improving their legal knowledge. This strengthens trust and promotes mutual understanding between the police and the public,’ noted the deputy head of the Karaganda region police department, Zhaskairat Kairov.
STRENGTHENING TRUST BETWEEN SOCIETY AND THE POLICE
Both events demonstrated the law enforcement agencies’ commitment to open dialogue with the public. This approach helps to foster a culture of respect for the law and increase public trust in the work of the police.
The organisers noted the high level of participation and emphasised the importance of such initiatives. Work to improve legal literacy among the public and prevent offences among young people will continue.
These events were an important step in developing partnership between government structures and society, clearly demonstrating the commitment of law enforcement agencies to upholding the rule of law and comprehensively improving the legal culture of the population.