(6 January 2026 | Source: MIA "KazTAG")
Statements by citizens concerning damage to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) have become the subject of a criminal investigation in Astana. Law enforcement agencies are checking publications and statements for compliance with the article on inciting ethnic hatred, emphasising the inadmissibility of disseminating unlawful information.
WHAT BECAME THE BASIS FOR THE INVESTIGATION
According to the response of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Berik Asylov, to a parliamentary request from Aidos Sarym dated 18 December 2025, the pre-trial investigation was initiated on 17 December 2025.
According to information from the Police Department of Astana, the reason was negative statements by citizens concerning damage to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
ARTICLE AND PROGRESS OF THE CHECK
The investigation is being conducted under Part 1 of Article 174 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which provides for liability for inciting ethnic hatred.
The Prosecutor General's Office clarified that, as part of the pre-trial investigation, measures are being taken to identify the individuals involved in the statements, as well as to gather evidence. Based on the results of these actions, a final legal classification will be given and an appropriate procedural decision will be made.
POSITION OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND EXPLANATORY WORK
Berik Asylov recalled that earlier the Prosecutor General's Office had already published a press release warning of the inadmissibility of disseminating false information and other unlawful materials in the media. The document also explained the existence of criminal and administrative liability for such actions.
According to him, explanatory work with citizens is carried out on a regular basis by local prosecutors.
ROLE OF THE SPECIALIST DEPARTMENT
Furthermore, the Prosecutor General reported that the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan is also conducting explanatory work among the population through the mass media, including on issues raised in the parliamentary request. The department will inform the deputy of its activities independently.
It should be recalled that earlier, oil and gas industry analyst Olzhas Baidildinov, commenting on the reduction in oil shipment volumes, stated that the economy of Kazakhstan may have lost around $1 billion in December of this year alone due to disruptions in the CPC's operations.