(23 January 2026 | Source: Informburo.kz)
An investigation has been launched in Almaty following an incident in which an unknown man claimed to be a Ministry of Defence employee and asked passers-by about their place of registration. The ministry officially stated that the man is not one of its employees, and the circumstances of the incident are being examined jointly with the relevant authorities.
HOW THE INCIDENT OCCURRED
According to information posted by Threads user Threads, the incident took place on 21 January near the Moscow Shopping Centre in Almaty. A man approached the post's author and his acquaintance, wearing a badge that read "Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan" and, without introducing himself, asked: "Where are you registered?"
When the young man asked who the speaker was, he reportedly did not give a clear answer. The man then claimed that the passer-by might be wanted or linked to the special military operation (SVO) and Ukraine, and also stated that he was supposedly "from the military enlistment office".
REACTION OF PASSERS-BY AND CALL TO THE POLICE
After filming began, according to the post's author, the unknown man tried to snatch the phone. The young people went into a café and called the police. Further details of their interaction with law enforcement are not specified in the materials.
POSITION OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
As reported by Informburo.kz, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan stated that the man appearing in the video has no connection to the armed forces. The ministry announced that an investigation has been launched jointly with the relevant authorities.
"The Ministry of Defence, together with the relevant authorities, is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, following which the materials will be handed over to the internal affairs bodies for action as provided for by law," the official statement reads.