Russian blogger Artemy Lebedev, while reviewing the news and discussing a fatal car accident in Kokshetau, mistakenly called the city "Koshketau". This sparked a strong reaction from social media users, some of whom considered the distortion of the name a sign of disrespect.
WHAT PROMPTED THE REACTION FROM USERS
The blogger made an error in the name of the city while discussing a high-profile incident — a fatal car accident in Kokshetau. In the comments, users pointed out that such cases happen regularly and involve not only individual bloggers but also some Russian media outlets.
Commenters wrote that incorrect pronunciation or spelling of Kazakhstani names and place names fosters a superficial perception of the country. Some users noted that using the correct name of the city is a basic requirement when covering tragic events.
WHICH CAR ACCIDENT IS BEING DISCUSSED
The fatal car accident occurred on 9 May in Kokshetau. A woman died under the wheels of an SUV while entering the parking lot of a residential building. Criminal cases have been opened regarding the incident.
WHY THE TOPIC RECEIVED WIDESPREAD ATTENTION
Previously, cases related to the incorrect pronunciation of Kazakhstani names and place names had already been discussed in the media space. In particular, media attention was drawn to instances when Russian President Vladimir Putin made verbal slips with the name of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during public events.
These include a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in January 2022, a speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2022, a meeting in Sochi in August 2022, as well as the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Bishkek in October 2023 and the forum of interregional cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia in November 2023.
These episodes had previously been the subject of discussion in Kazakh and Russian media.
WHY THE ISSUE IS VIEWED AS SENSITIVE
For some users, the topic of correctly pronouncing Kazakhstani names and place names is linked not only to a linguistic error, but also to the issue of showing respect towards the country and its citizens.