In the Mangystau Region, a criminal case was opened after damage to the wall of the natural site Ybykty Sai. A suspect in vandalism has been detained.
WHAT HAPPENED
According to the Police Department (PD) of the Mangystau Region, a 34-year-old man was detained in connection with the damage to the natural site. The fact of damage to the canyon wall was discovered during social media monitoring.
The police are continuing the investigation.
WHAT PUNISHMENT IS PROVIDED FOR
Liability for vandalism is established by Article 294 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Vandalism"). It provides for a fine of 100 to 200 MCI, corrective labour in the same amount, community service for a term of up to 160 hours, or arrest for up to 50 days.
WHY DAMAGE TO A NATURAL SITE MATTERS
Ybykty Sai is one of the unusual natural sites of the Mangystau Region. Its value is linked not only to its distinctive appearance, but also to the geological history of the area.
Unlike ordinary infrastructure, natural rock formations that took millions of years to form cannot be restored in the same way
CONTEXT
This is not the first case of vandalism in Ybykty Sai. In May 2026 , law enforcement officers identified damage to the rocks during social media monitoring. A 21-year-old resident of the Mangystau Region left his name and car number on the rock. The court imposed 25 days of administrative arrest on him, and also ordered him to remove the inscriptions and restore the area to its original state.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also responded to the incident. He called on the relevant authorities to take tough legal measures and stated the need to resolutely counter such cases.
However, despite the attention of law enforcement officers and the Head of State, a similar case has occurred again.
